Matthew McCole faces seasoned Belfast puncher Sean McComb tonight at the Ulster Elite Championships hoping to gain valuable experience.
The Dungloe light-welter is putting his focus on the Irish Senior Championships, which glove off this weekend.
His chances are slim against McComb, who defeated reigning World and European champion Vitaly Dunaystev at this year’s European Elites in Kharkiv.
The Holy Trinity man will test McCole to the max at the Dockworkers Club.
“It’s all for experience and to see where I’m at really,” McCole said.
“The plan was to get a fight in the Ulster Elites to see how they’d go.
“I got a good few fights heading into the Irish seniors. I’ll use these Elites to see what kind of standard I’m at.”
McCole is unfazed with a crack at McComb. The Donegal southpaw defeated Colm Trengove last month to win the Ulster Senior Championship title.
McCole said: “I didn’t win much at underage, but I’m starting to come through. I’ve never been far away, but hopefully I can start to shine through now.
“I feel a lot more comfortable now. Even at 64, I feel more comfortable. I’m a tall fella for the weight, but I feel strong at the weight. I can use that to my advantage. That’s the game plan most of the time.”
At the Raphoe ABC tournament a couple of weeks ago in Deele College, McCole got the better of Raphoe’s former Irish schoolboy champion Orin McDermott, who has regularly shared the squared circle with his older brother, Mark.
McCole said: “I fought Orin. He’s a smart boxer and that fight will help my sharpness. I’ve just been lacking that sharpness. He’s a tricky fighter.
“Mark would have fought him a few times before so hopefully that fight will stand to me going into these ones.”
Illies Golden Gloves light-fly Donna Barr is in semi-final action tonight when she takes on Ceire Smith from Cavan at 51kgs.
On Friday night, Brett McGinty of Oakleaf faces Nathan Watson in a welterweight semi-final.
The finals will be held on Friday-week, November 24, at the Ulster Hall.
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