Tommy McCarthy hits back at Johnny Nelson Criticism: 'The wee lad talks sh*te'

[Ruthless-RKO]

Neil Loughran

NEW European champion Tommy McCarthy has hit back at Johnny Nelson after the Sky Sports pundit claimed the west Belfast cruiserweight had “hit his ceiling” with Saturday night’s victory over Bilal Laggoune.

McCarthy has bounced back from a devastating 2019 defeat to Richard Riakporhe by reeling off four wins on the trot – the last two victories over Fabio Turchi and Belgian Laggoune pushing him right into the world title mix.

However, Nelson wasted no time in suggesting that European title success might be as far as McCarthy goes, and urged the 29-year-old to “prove me wrong”.

“You have to take the rough with the smooth AND, at the end of the day, everyone can’t be ‘Team Tommy’,” he said of Nelson, who held the WBO cruiserweight title from 1999-2005.

“It doesn’t annoy me too much, but I don’t have to prove nothing to Johnny Nelson. Who is he? He’s a good talker, but he was probably the most slated boxer in British boxing history – he was even booed at some of his own fights.

“I think Johnny has this wee thing where he doesn’t want any other cruiserweights to do better than him. The wee lad talks sh*te. The amount of sh*te he talks is unbelievable.”

McCarthy hopes to be back in action around March next year, and reiterated his desire to pit himself against current cruiserweight kind Marius Breidis, having sparred the Latvian back in 2018.

“Do you think I’d be calling him out if it went bad?” he laughed when asked how those rounds had gone.

“One of my kids had just been born and I went out there for a week. I hadn’t been training, they told me I wouldn’t do any more than six rounds, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I was thinking I’ll be able to survive for six rounds, but when I got there I was shocked how well I did.

“I know sparring and fighting are different, but I was far bigger than him and took a lot of confidence. He’s the top dog, has been for some time, and I really do want that fight.”

[milpool]

Of course, it would be fantastic if McCarthy proved him wrong but I think Nelson might be right here.

[margaret thatcher]

ya agree that nelsons prob right, a euro seems like mccarthy's peak

[Ricky]

McCarthy is rotten.

[cormack]

breidis would dispose of mcarthy in a devastating way .

[Noxy]

People care about McCarthy. It’s reverse psychology from Nelson, seems to be working too.

[Glass Joe]

McCarthy too raw, would like to see him against Chis Billam Smith if he wins his next fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

McCarthy too raw, would like to see him against Chis Billam Smith if he wins his next fight.

Yeh. Does he bear Riakporhe?

[margaret thatcher]

Rick already pounded him, would beat him again

[Ruthless-RKO]

Rick already pounded him, would beat him again

Oh yeh. He has. Stoppage win.

Why did Tommy get pushed quick?

Cuz he beat Turchi?

[TheLeprechaun]

McCarthy is definitely going nowhere. Billam Smith would bang him out inside 3 rounds

[jameswilson]

Is there actually any shame in winning a European title and retiring with that as the pinnacle of your career?

[Noxy]

Is there actually any shame in winning a European title and retiring with that as the pinnacle of your career?

First I‘ve heard of it if there is.

[keirw]

Is there actually any shame in winning a European title and retiring with that as the pinnacle of your career?

Not at all, but nothing wrong with Mccarthy wanting to push on and try for a world title.

He won't win one, but nothing wrong with him giving it a go.

[coneye]

European title ,, wish i had one ,most of fus mere mortals could'nt get remotly close , , and regards wether or not he can win a world title ,,, Well you got to be in it to win it , and if you can secure a nice payday for trying ,, Well GOOD LUCK TO YA

[Fray Bentos]

European title ,, wish i had one ,most of fus mere mortals could'nt get remotly close , , and regards wether or not he can win a world title ,,, Well you got to be in it to win it , and if you can secure a nice payday for trying ,, Well GOOD LUCK TO YA

Agreed.

The EBU title used to be an automatic top 10 rating with the WBC and I am sure it still is - he is nearer a world title shot than most people think.

[brilo33]

i think that comment will help him mac a lot, i like tommy seen a lot of his fights but at times he does get that autopilot boxing which aint good enough , because i thought he was behind after the first couple of rds but when he hurt Laggoune he woke up and he boxed well and finished well which he has in him to do he is big fast good hands , he needs to get nasty and he can push on