Dunne's camp hits back at Maloney claims

BOXING:Claims by promoter Frank Maloney that Bernard Dunne is "running scared" of reigning European super-bantamweight champion Rendall Munroe are a smokescreen for the lack of confidence in the Leicester fighter's camp, according to the Dubliner's manager.

Munroe's promoter Frank Maloney yesterday claimed that Dunne was "off the radar" and "will have to wait at least 18 months for a mandatory fight" after he turned down a "substantial" offer to challenge for the title in England.

Maloney added: "I expect to name Rendall's next challenger inside 10 days. We have three names in the frame at the moment."

Meath-based promoter Brian Peters has refuted the claims today, saying that the package he offered Munroe to fight in Dublin was much more generous and still stands, though Dunne, who lost the title to Kiko Martinez in August last year, has other options himself.

"I'd like to thank Frank for his offer," Peters said today. "However he neglected to mention that the offer I made to him for Rendall to defend against Bernard was more than double their offer and would have been easily the biggest payday of Munroe's career.

"So by Frank's rationale I'm sure he'd admit that the offer he rejected, was very, very, substantial.

"Clearly they are not as confident of beating Bernard as they would like people to think - but if they want to use Bernard's name to get some publicity then that's ok too.

"Our offer stands by the way and should Frank wish to take it up he can give me a call. Either way I wish Rendall nothing but the best in his career. I hope the kind of offers that his team are rejecting come around again for him in the future."

"There are plenty of other options on the table for Bernard. He's already been European champion and to fight for a World title has always been the ultimate aim and that's what we're building to at the moment."

Munroe claimed the title after a shock win over Martinez in the Spaniard's first defence of his title in March this year.