Tiernan is aiming to produce ‘a great performance’

TIERNAN Bradley is aiming to put on a ‘great performance’ on his debut in the GBM Promotion ranks this coming weekend when he takes on the experienced Argentinian Miguel Cesario Antin.

The 27-year-old Omagh man is unbeaten since joining the professional ranks on the back of a storied amateur career and he’s confident of sealing his first win of 2024 after earning three triumphs last year.

“He’s a massive test for me,” Bradley admitted. He’s got something like 35 fights under his belt but he went 18-2 at his height and he’s knocked a good few people out.

“The only time he’s ever been beat is when he’s been up against top level lads. He’s gone the distance with these top level lads, he’s been WBA Mediterranean champion, he’s won titles, he gave Harlem Eubank a good fight, took him the full eight rounds, he took Kane Gardner the full 10 rounds, he’s pushed these guys.

“He’s no blow over, he won’t quit and I’ve heard from his camp he’s really up for this fight, so he’s dangerous because he’s got nothing to lose and all the pressure is on me because it’s my first fight under GBM Promotions.

“But I’m not going to let any of the pressure get to me. I’ve had more pressure than this before and it’s never stopped me. I’m looking forward to putting on a great performance as a thank you to GBM for having faith in me, signing me and putting me on their shows

“I’m the bigger man, I have a lot more forward momentum than him, which I think I can use to spur me on.”

Bradley will go into Saturday’s clash in the Magna Centre, Rotherham, full of confidence on the back of his last performance in November when he defeated Michal Bulik in Brighton, basically one-handed.

And he believes the skills he showed in that encounter prove he’s a cut above the rank and file.

“I’m very happy, especially considering I done the ligaments in my right hand in the very first round when I dropped him,” Tiernan explained.

“I actually thought it was broke so I had to punch with my left hand the entire fight. But I won it easy and I actually dropped him again in the last five seconds of the fight, having dropped him in the first five seconds.

“I’ve been [switching to southpaw] my whole life, me and my younger brother [Callum] are fantastic switchers, I think him more than me. It’s something the old school boxers used to do, but not so much now. But you see the boys at the top, especially the American’s, they can switch and it’s the difference between a lower level fighter and a higher level fighter.”

Saturday’s clash with Antin is the first of what looks set to be a busy year for Bradley, who will be back in action at York Hall on May 24th before, hopefully, fighting for a title in Galway in July as he aims to climb the world rankings.