At 36, Belfast’s Padraig ‘The Hammer’ McCrory is perhaps seen as previous his prime by some, however he feels extra alive than ever heading into his mild heavyweight bout with Leonard Carrillo at Belfast’s SSE Area. The combat, airing Friday on the ProBox TV app, marks McCrory’s return to the ring following a sixth-round knockout loss to Edgar Berlanga in February.
“Yeah, pay attention, I am 36 now,” McCrory, 18-1 (9 KOs), advised ProBox TV. “The expertise was nice, and I feel I’ll be taught from it, however the efficiency that night time simply wasn’t adequate. I don’t suppose I confirmed up.”
Carrillo, 17-5 (16 KOs), hails from Barranquilla, Colombia, however now fights out of Barcelona, Spain. At 35, the southpaw energy puncher has fought solely as soon as in 2024, securing a second-round TKO over Luis Guillermo Berrio. Although McCrory acknowledges Carrillo’s harmful ability set, he’s additionally drawing from the Berlanga bout, which gave him worldwide publicity.
“He’s a southpaw with 16 knockouts and fought at a extremely good degree as an beginner,” McCrory stated. “I’ve boxed loads of southpaws within the amateurs and a pair as a professional, so I do know I can adapt and do what’s wanted to win. However yeah, he has 16 KOs, so I’m going to should be switched on. He most likely sees me as an opportunity to get a giant combat, and I can’t let that occur.”
McCrory balances boxing with a private coaching enterprise, not relying solely on his combat profession for his residing and profession. “I’m solely 19 fights in, and during the last six and a half years, we had two years the place nothing actually occurred because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I nonetheless have a deep need to check myself towards the most effective, and I really feel I didn’t do this towards Berlanga.”
Regardless of setbacks, McCrory’s ambitions are set excessive, aiming for title competition within the tremendous middleweight division.
“I take it combat by combat, however I’ve a three-fight plan to get again into title competition,” McCrory stated. “Who is aware of what’s going to occur with Canelo? He might transfer up, problem Dmitry Bivol or Artur Beterbiev, and people belts might be unfold out. My goal is to get again on the earth rankings and into place for a giant alternative.”
