Title delight in the ‘Big Apple’ for Feargal McCrory

FEARGAL McCrory’s third round stoppage of Carlos Carlson last night in Madison Square Garden should prove a major launch-pad for the Coalisland native, who won the WBA Continental Americas super-featherweight title in some style.

The 31-year-old caught his Mexican opponent with a powerful body in the third round, sending him to the canvas and although Carlson returned to his feet, he was visibly shaken by the punch, guarding his side with his elbows and soon after referee David Fields waved the bout over following another barrage from McCrory.

The Tyrone man’s triumph was his 16^th straight since joining the professional ranks and it brought McCrory his first title since he was crowned Boxing Union of Ireland lightweight champion in 2019 after he defeated Karl Kelly in one of Ireland’s most famous fight venues, Belfast’s Ulster Hall.

While that victory announced his potential in the paid ranks, Friday night’s success was all together a bigger deal. It came on St Patrick’s Day weekend in New York at boxing’s ‘Mecca’ Madison Square Garden and with the win coming in some style, with McCrory proving to be a class above the former World title contender, it would seem only a matter of time that the now world ranked ‘Fearless’ will be fighting for even bigger belts.

“Selling out MSG on St Patrick’s weekend, winning a title and becoming world ranked while stopping my opponent early, with thousands of friends, family and supporters! That’ll take some topping,” beamed McCrory after the clash.

“Thank you everyone who made this possible and thank you to every single person there tonight [Friday].

“I was told by numerous members of staff in MSG that it’s been many years since they experienced an atmosphere like that! That is something special to hear and fills me with enormous pride!

“It’s great to be a champion again!”

Ahead of his clash with Carlson, who earned 16 of his 25 victories by way of knockout, McCrory was prepared for ‘a war’ in the ring, but that sort of evenly contested, toe-to-toe battle never emerged as the father of two from Pomeroy out-classed his Mexican foe from the first bell to the early finish.

The first round proved the most even of the encounter with both fighters landing several blows to their rival’s head, but it was McCrory who was the more aggressive of the two, with his greater size looking likely to be a major advantage and so it proved in the end.

From the off, McCrory’s body punching looked as if it would be key, causing Carlson discomfort with its power and effectiveness and his march-forward tactic paid dividends in the second round with more body shots signalling the Tyrone man’s dominance.

Carlson did try to make a go of things at the start of the third, landing a big right hand on McCrory, but that shot seemed to act only as a red rag to a bull rather than a warning of what was to come as ‘Fearless’ upped his work-rate once more before sending his opponent to the canvas with a venomous shot to the body that ultimately proved decisive.