TOMMY MCCARTHY could also be only one win away from touchdown a third fight against Chris Billam-Smith.
That is the Belfast fighter’s considering as he prepares to face Michal Cieslak for the European cruiserweight title in September or October.
McCarthy gained the EBU belt three years in the past defeating Bilal Laggoune. One profitable defence against Alexandru Jur was adopted by a cut up resolution loss to Chris Billam-Smith in July 2021. Nine months later the pair rematched each other however the Englishman gained by eighth spherical knockout to finish the rivalry.
Wins quantity 19 and 20 got here for McCarthy final yr against Pauls Vilbergs in Latvia and Reinis Porozovs in Belfast.
The 28-year-old instructed the Belfast Telegraph he realises the magnitude of the Cieslak fight the place McCarthy is the obligatory challenger.
“This a huge fight for me. It’s the pathway to a world title fight. It’s the chance to become a two-time European champion and also it’s essentially a world title eliminator,” stated McCarthy.
“I do know that is going to be a troublesome fight however then at this degree all of them are. He’s a man who has fought twice for the world title — misplaced to Lawrence Okolie and Ilunga Makabu so he’s a world degree fighter and we’re kinda in the identical boat. We’re each trying to get that world title shot.
“It just feels like things are falling into place for me… I have this chance now to enjoy a fairytale ending to my career.”
McCarthy sees no cause why a third fight can’t be made with Billam-Smith who gained the WBO belt against Lawrence Okolie final month.
“Most people thought I won the first fight, he obviously won the second and if I have the European title then why not go for a third fight?”
Cieslak bounced again from a factors defeat to Okolie in February 2022 by successful his subsequent three fights against Enrico Koelling, Krzysztof Twardowski after which for the European title two months in the past beating Dylan Bregeon with a fourth-round knockout.
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