A first career defeat gave Padraig McCrory plenty to think about, and he knows that should it all go wrong at the SSE Arena against Leonard Carrillo on Friday night, there may be no decision to be made about his future (live on the ProBox TV app).
Clearing the hurdles set in front was all the 36-year-old knew until he ran into Edgar Berlanga back in February as he not only lost for the first time in 19 fights but was dropped and stopped in the process. The defeat on its own stung, but the pain was amplified by the manner of the loss as his air of invincibility had vanished.
Naturally, there was a mulling-over period. His management company Hammer Boxing has been established as he takes the up-and-comers under his wing, but in time, it became clear he had unfinished business, so he will step between the ropes where he made his debut seven years previously – but this time, he is the main attraction.
Conlan Boxing’s 12-fight card has a bit of everything with some of the rookie pros continuing their development, but the top end of the card is certainly tasty, and no more so than McCrory’s return.
The west Belfast man’s punching power is noted, but it may come as a surprise that just nine of his 18 wins have come inside the distance, and it has been over two years since he last enjoyed an early night when ripping up the script in Germany to claim the IBO light-heavyweight belt with a destructive performance against Leon Bunn.
Injuries and some unambitious opposition can be attributed to this stat prior to Berlanga taking his ‘0’, but should he arrest it, then it would represent the perfect way to bounce back.
However, it’s not so straightforward, as the man in the opposite corner is no slouch in the power department with 16 of his 17 wins coming inside the distance, and he has previous for taking scalps on the road, inflicting a first defeat in 15 on Mateusz Tryc in Poland two years ago.
Lisburn’s Kurt Walker is in action when he takes on California’s Rudy Garcia
There is danger for McCrory but also opportunity, as Carrillo has been stopped on three occasions and has won just two of his last six.
Therefore, this is a very decent test and one in which he can look good in, but he is taking nothing for granted and nor can he.
“Going by his record, he’s a dangerous guy,” McCrory said.
“He’s got 16 knock-outs from 17 wins, and with a hard-punching South American, my first thought is of Breidis Prescott against Amir Khan.
“But to come back and be fully motivated, I need that edge. He’s gone to Poland and beaten a 14-0 guy, but it’s a fight I should win. Still, with someone who’s stopped 16 people, you’ve got to be cautious.”
A switched-on McCrory should have too much for the Colombian and take the win, but it could be fun while it lasts.
Kurt Walker also faces a test against California’s Rudy Garcia, with the Lisburn man bidding to build on the momentum from his career-best victory in March over James Beech Jnr.
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The Tokyo Olympian had been given decent tests in the early phase of his pro career, but as he proved against Beech, his best will only shine through against a good level of opposition, and Garcia certainly ticks that box.
Walker wants to get a move on in his career, and should he take care of business against the Mexican-American, whose record sits at 13-1-1, then it will propel him forward.
However, Garcia will be no pushover, and although he is coming off his first career defeat, he has arrived in determined mood.
Neither man is known as a huge puncher, but they make up for it in skills, so the scorecards are likely to be employed.
Whether that is the case when Ruadhan Farrell and Connor Kerr rematch remains to be seen, but there is little doubt this could be the fight of the night, just as it was when they met at the Ulster Hall in March.
On that occasion, north Belfast’s Farrell came through on points to claim the BUI Celtic super-bantamweight title at the expense of the Monkstown man, but eight thrilling rounds flipped one way and then the other.
This time, the Irish title is on the line, so 10 rounds are slated, and this may well come down to which has the engine as there is little doubt they will pick up where they left off from their first battle.
Also at the top end of the card, Liverpool’s Robbie Davies Jnr takes on former world champion Javier Fortuna, but there is plenty of local interest earlier in the night, with former Holy Trinity pair Jack O’Neill and Teo Alin facing into their second pro outings.
That is also the case for Strabane’s Cathal McLaughlin and Dublin’s Gareth Dowling.
Coleraine’s Matthew Boreland steps up to eight rounds for the first time in just his fourth fight as he faces Calum Turnbull, while Tommy McCarthy looks to put two successive defeats behind him, Colm Murphy is in a keep-busy and Brandon McCarthy returns home after his first two pro fights took place in the United States.