Dunne on the trail of knock-out

BOXING: No one views the vacant IBC world super bantamweight title as anything other than a stepping-stone for Bernard Dunne in his so far perfect career path.

The Dublin fighter, coming down from featherweight to meet Seán Hughes tonight in the National Stadium, is more interested in progressing his fight statistics with an 18th straight victory than collecting a belt, which, if he fulfils his ultimate ambition, will become one of the forgotten baubles collected along the way.

Still, it is Dunne's first fight in this weight division and his first scheduled 12-round bout. It is also against a fighter who came into the negotiations late after the withdrawal of promoter Brian Peters' original pick, but remains a pivotal night's work for the Neilstown native, who hopes to one day hold one of the more revered world championship titles.

Hughes is also taller than the Irishman, as was evidenced at yesterday's Dublin weigh-in, where both fighters comfortably made the weight, Dunne telling the assembly that it was easy to drop the pounds and come down and claiming that he didn't even have to train that day to make it.

Looking a lot leaner and more muscular than the former British Central Area Champion, the 24-year-old was again in a positive form, when once again, he was asked to predict the outcome.

"I'll be looking for the KO," he replied. "If Mr Hughes sticks his chin out, he'll be looking up at the lights in the National Stadium."

But Dunne was also reminded of the last time he stepped into the ring at the same venue and was shaken in the final round. That dangerous three minutes, which might have halted his career had he hit the canvas, is now being seen as part of a learning curve.

"Last time I dealt with it and you learn from the experience. You can expect to be hit in boxing matches," he said.

Tonight will be the first time two Dubliners will be fighting for world titles on the same night. With Dunne and Hughes occupying the main card, another local, Jim Rock, is hoping to turn around his 2003 defeat to Alan Jones and earn himself the IBC middleweight crown.

The undercard will also showcase the talents of world-rated super middleweight Brian Magee. The world-ranked Belfast man is hoping for another European title shot following a controversial points defeat to Ukrainian Vitali Tsypko in Germany this summer.

Three other Dubliners complete the card with former European amateur champion Paul Griffin, Oklahoma-based Dubliner Oisín Fagan and Tallaght's unbeaten 20-year-old featherweight Paul Hyland all boxing.

Yesterday Kevin McBride also announced his next opponent would not be the hoped for WBO champion John Ruiz but reigning British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Matt Skelton. McBride, who memorably floored Mike Tyson in June before winning the fight over six rounds, will face the England fighter on December 10th.

Tonight's National Stadium programme begins 8.30pm. RTÉ coverage starts 10.25pm.