Aberdeen boxer Darren Traynor is ready to silence a hostile Belfast crowd when he takes on James Tennyson for the WBA super-featherweight title tomorrow.
The 30-year-old is relishing going up against the Belfast fighter at the SSE Arena in the Northern Ireland capital and believes he is capable of causing an upset.
The pair meet on the undercard of Ryan Burnett’s world title unification bout against Zhanat Zhakiyanov with Traynor’s fight live on Sky Sports.
This will be the Aberdonian’s biggest test since he fought Ryan Walsh for the British title last January.
Traynor had taken on that fight at short notice and was eventually stopped in the fifth round but he is ready to give a better account of himself this time.
He said: “This is one of the biggest fights in my career. Fighting for a big title is a great opportunity for me.
“I know it is going to be a tough fight but I’m really looking forward to it.
“I have had much more time to prepare for this fight than with the Ryan Walsh one, I’m feeling very strong and my training camp has been excellent as I have done a lot of strength and conditioning work. I was working at Ricky Hatton’s gym in Manchester and was sparring with some of the fighters down there.
“James Tennyson is going to come forward and take the fight to me.It is going to be an intense fight because we both like going forward. We both like a tear-up.
“I just have to dig in deep and keep my concentration.
“I have fought in front of big crowds before. I know the crowd might be a bit hostile but when we get in the ring it will just be him and me. I will take the fight to him and hopefully do the business.”
Tennyson, who has won 19 of his 21 contests, is expecting a tricky encounter against Traynor, who won the coveted Golden Gloves of America as an amateur.
He said: “I have prepared for a good 10-round fight. This has the potential to be a cracking fight and it depends who wants it most on the night.
“I’ll be going in there feeling sharp and if the opportunity for a knockout presents itself then, of course, I’ll pounce on it but I never actually go in looking for it.
“I wouldn’t like to say how it’s going to go but it’s certainly got the makings of being a potential show stealer.
“Darren is the type of fighter that likes to come forward. He is quick with his hands and he’s a good fast puncher with a good work-rate. We were supposed to be fighting around two years ago and we had a look at him at that point.
“My trainer Tony Dunlop and I have got a few plans set out.”
