James Tennyson will box for the Celtic title on March 28
James Tennyson returned with a bang on Saturday, February 7 when the promising featherweight blitzed Simas Volosinas in two rounds. Bigger tests will certainly come for James but after an unfortunate nine-month hiatus the 21-year-old was just glad to be back in the ring and exciting his loyal following.
“I’m very happy with that because I’ve been training hard for nine weeks,” he said. “The cornermen basically told me to go in and not to give him a minute to settle, just see how he copes. I’ve been out for nine months so it’s good to get back in and get a good win and get back on track.”
Tennyson is highly placed in the British rankings and wants to gets his paws on the Lonsdale belt or at least fight some sort of elimination bout before the year is out. The reigning Irish super-featherweight king was originally scheduled to box 15-0 Scottish boxer Michael Roberts in Belfast on March 28 but now it has been confirmed that Celtic title holder Kris Hughes has been tempted over to the Andersonstown Leisure Centre on the same date.
“I’d definitely like a British title shot. I’m up there [in the rankings] at the minute so that’s what I’m aiming for. It was frustrating because I got a good win over Ian Bailey but then I was out of the ring and it’s great to get back on track,” said Tennyson.
Volosinas was no world-beater but he had reasonable form in the past. The Lithuanian troubled Declan Geraghty and went the six-round distance with Anthony Cacace in Liverpool last year.
“He put down Jon Slowey from Scotland so he’s usually strong,” added Tennyson.
“As soon as the uppercut landed and it damaged his nose he turned away so I stepped it up a wee bit. He didn’t want to know from that point on.”
Manager Mark Dunlop is keen to find a space for both James Tennyson and Paul Hyland Jnr on the big February 28 Odyssey undercard.
“Look at the support they both got and the wins, both were punch perfect,” elaborated Dunlop. “Carl Frampton is the IBF champion of the world and he went away impressed with these kids tonight. The same with Paul Butler.”
Mark has been busy poking and prodding at the British Boxing Board of Control for a featherweight eliminator and was exploring other routes for the Poleglass puncher. The head of MHD Promotions revealed that there was talk of his man fighting for an IBF Intercontinental title.
Speaking immediately after Tennyson’s impressive dismissal of Volosinas, Dunlop told Irish Boxing Review: “I’m trying to get James in an eliminator for the British title and I’m trying to get him ranked in the European as well. The British title’s vacant, there are four boxers up there and nobody wants to fight this young man. I’ve asked to fight any of the top ten fighters for an eliminator and we don’t care who it is, they’re the ones who are going to care.”
Mark’s wishes appear to have come true as since that interview took place Tennyson has been pushed into a Celtic featherweight title shot by the Board in a bout that will also serve as the British title eliminator his Belfast team crave. The current Celtic champion is former Carl Frampton-victim Kris Hughes who will travel to Northern Ireland to box James on March 28. The winner of that Celtic clash will then fight for the British title which is set to be contested by Samir Mouneimne and Ryan Walsh whenever the various parties can agree a date and location. Mouneimne’s previous crack ended badly when he was knocked out by current European champion Josh Warrington back in 2013. Dunlop is unconcerned about who faces his man and believes it is the opposition that needs to be worrying about Tennyson’s abilities.
“James is the real deal. His defence is rock solid and this man [trainer Tony Dunlop] has dedicated himself for ten weeks building this kid up. Morning, noon and night the pair of them are out and they proved it tonight. If that fight hadn’t been stopped by the referee then that kid was out of there.
“He will destroy any featherweight in Britain, bar none,” buzzed Mark Dunlop.
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