BoxRec

Light-heavyweights Leon Bunn and Padraig McCrory clash for IBO belt

Germany's Bunn will face NI's McCrory for world honours

Light-heavyweight contender Leon Bunn (18-0, 9KO) will have to wait an additional three weeks before finally receiving his long-awaited world title shot, after his original opponent, Daniel Blenda dos Santos, had to pull out of the fight due to an ankle injury, meaning the highly anticipated event presented by Wasserman Boxing in association with Probellum at the Fabriksporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany, has been rescheduled for October 22. Tickets bought for the original date of October 1 will remain valid.

Fortunately, a new opponent for 28-year-old local hero Bunn, who is the reigning IBF International light-heavy champion, has already been found. He will now face unbeaten power-puncher Padraig McCrory (14-0, 8KO) from Belfast for the vacant IBO World light heavyweight championship.

Known as “The Hammer“, the 34-year-old is unbeaten in 14 fights, with eight big wins by way of knockout, and was scheduled to fight for the EBU-EU title on October 22 in Belfast. However, when the opportunity to challenge for a world title came along, he immediately jumped at it.

Despite being the visiting fighter on away turf, the Irishman comes into the contest on top form, having stopped his last four opponents in a row, not one of them making it past the midway stage of the contests. In his last fight, he defended his WBC International Silver super-middleweight title for the second time since winning it in August last year, which has earned him a world ranking of 26th with the World Boxing Council.

The undefeated Leon Bunn is unmoved by the change of opponent and date, saying, “I’m glad that we found a new opponent so fast. I have great respect for Padraig McCrory and I certainly won’t overlook him. However, my goal is set in stone: On October 22, I will become champion of the world in front of my fans in Frankfurt - and nobody will stop me! I can’t wait to enter the ring that night.”

Padraig McCrory does not lack confidence either, as he is predicting a knockout win on October 22: “I’m relishing the opportunity to become the IBO World champion, fighting in Leon Bunn’s backyard adds an extra fire in the belly and will make the rewards of winning this title so much sweeter. I’ve seen plenty of Leon Bunn, he’s a really good boxer, but I don’t think he can take my power for 12 rounds.”

Promoter Kalle Sauerland is expecting an exciting and action-packed showdown in Frankfurt: “After dos Santos’ injury, we knew that we had to postpone the event in order to find a suitable opponent for Leon. We did! It’s a big, big chance for Padraig McCrory, he can become world champion. He’s unbeaten, he’s powerful, he has that Irish mentality and all of that makes him a very dangerous opponent. Leon has to be at his absolute best to win the world title in front of his fans on October 22.“

Jamie Conlan, a former world title challenger himself and manager of Padraig McCrory, is confident in his fighters’ ability to return to Ireland with the IBO belt around his waist: “We where planning and preparing for the EU title but this opportunity came up and Pody jumped at it. I totally believe going into the Lions Den will bring out the best in Pody McCrory. Leon is a very good, accomplished boxer and Pody has knockout power in either hand, both guys come in undefeated with great confidence and I believe it will be a very entertaining fight.”

If McCrory can follow in Tyson Fury's footsteps and pull off the upset in Germany from the away corner, then he could join fellow UK fighters Jack Massey; Lerrone Richards; Sam Eggington; Maxi Hughes; and Hannah Rankin as IBO World Champions.

Tickets for the IBO World light heavyweight championship between Leon Bunn and Padraig McCrory presented by Wasserman Boxing in association with Probellum on October 22 at the Fabriksporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany, are on sale now and can be bought via Eventim.

Wasserman still doing business with Probellum then.

Press Release

Light heavyweight contender Leon Bunn will have to wait an additional three weeks before finally receiving his long-awaited world title shot! After his original opponent, Daniel Blenda dos Santos, had to pull out of the fight due to an ankle injury, the highly anticipated event presented by Wasserman Boxing in association with Probellum at the Fabriksporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany, has been rescheduled for October 22. Tickets bought for the original date of October 1 will remain valid.

A new opponent for 28-year-old local hero Leon Bunn has already been found: He will now face unbeaten power-puncher Padraig McCrory from Ireland for the vacant IBO World light heavyweight championship. McCrory, called “The Hammer“, is unbeaten in 14 fights, with 8 big wins by way of knockout, and was scheduled to fight for the EBU-EU title on October 22 in Belfast. However, when the opportunity to fight for a world title came along, he immediately jumped at it.

The undefeated Bunn is unmoved by the change of opponent and date, saying, “I’m glad that we found a new opponent so fast. I have great respect for Padraig McCrory and I certainly won’t overlook him. However, my goal is set in stone: On October 22, I will become champion of the world in front of my fans in Frankfurt - and nobody will stop me! I can’t wait to enter the ring that night.“

McCrory does not lack confidence either, as he is predicting a knockout win on October 22: “I’m relishing the opportunity to become the IBO World champion, fighting in Leon Bunn’s backyard adds an extra fire in the belly and will make the rewards of winning this title so much sweeter. I’ve seen plenty of Leon Bunn, he’s a really good boxer, but I don’t think he can take my power for 12 rounds.“

Promoter Kalle Sauerland is expecting an exciting and action-packed showdown in Frankfurt: “After dos Santos’ injury, we knew that we had to postpone the event in order to find a suitable opponent for Leon. We did! It’s a big, big chance for Padraig McCrory, he can become world champion. He’s unbeaten, he’s powerful, he has that Irish mentality and all of that makes him a very dangerous opponent. Leon has to be at his absolute best to win the world title in front of his fans on October 22.“

Jamie Conlan, a former world title challenger himself and manager of Padraig McCrory, is confident in his fighters’ ability to return to Ireland with the IBO belt around his waist: “We where planning and preparing for the EU title but this opportunity came up and Pody jumped at it. I totally believe going into the Lions Den will bring out the best in Pody McCrory. Leon is a very good, accomplished boxer and Pody has knockout power in either hand, both guys come in undefeated with great confidence and I believe it will be a very entertaining fight.“

Whats this bunn fella like, any good? I like mccrory

I’ve known Padraig for years so rooting for him to pull this off. He can certainly bang. Not sure how good Bunn is but McCrory is a better fighter than the guy he replaced, Blenda Dos Santos.

Press Release | Cinqueoncie-Maric, Bauer-Gonzalez Added To October 22

Two exciting Youth world title fights have been added to the undercard for the IBO world light heavyweight championship showdown between unbeaten local hero Leon Bunn and hard-hitting Irishman Padraig McCrory, brought to you by Wasserman Boxing in association with Probellum.

The unbeaten Luca Cinqueoncie from Offenbach, Germany, will put his WBC and IBF Youth World light heavyweight titles on the line against Leon Maric, while Leon Bauer and Hancel Gonzalez are set to collide in battle of the undefeated for the vacant IBF and IBO Youth World super middleweight titles. Both Youth title fights are presented in collaboration with Rainer Gottwald’s KAIF 5STAR Boxing Promotion.

The unbeaten Cinqueoncie will have home advantage in Frankfurt, as his birth town of Offenbach is only a few kilometers away from the site of the fight on October 22. It will be a rematch between Cinqueoncie and Maric, as they previously fought in May. The German “Rocky“ won the fight on points, but Maric activated a rematch clause to secure another shot at Cinqueoncie.

While the fans can certainly expect an explosive rematch between the two light heavyweights, Cinqueoncie does not lack confidence ahead of the fight:

“I want to thank Rainer Gottwald and Kalle Sauerland for this opportunity. It’s a huge honor to be fighting on such a big stage, that’s what you dream of as a kid“, he said. “Frankfurt is close to Offenbach and I can’t wait to put on a show for my fans. It’ll be a great fight, but I’ll bring that victory back home!“

In a battle of undefeated super middleweights, 24-years old Bauer from Kandel, Germany, will square off with 21-year old Gonzalez from Colombia. The vacant IBF and IBO Youth world titles will be on the line.

The fight was originally scheduled for September 24 in Ludwigshafen, but Bauer tested positive for Covid ahead of the bout. While he is still isolated at home, Bauer is already feeling better and is ready to resume training in the next couple of days - with the clear goal in mind to be at his very best on October 22 in Frankfurt!

Promoter Kalle Sauerland is excited by the addition of the two Youth world championships to the Frankfurt Fight Night: “It was a pleasure to work with Rainer Gottwald on securing those two exciting title fights! Luca Cinqueoncie and Leon Bauer are highly talented fighters, ready to make their way to the top. Offenbach is not far from Frankfurt, so Luca will have home advantage as well and I’m sure that many of his fans will make the drive to the arena. Everyone is in for a great event on October 22 at the Fabriksporthalle!“

Rainer Gottwald, promoter of both Cinqueoncie and Bauer, cannot wait for the first bell at the Fabriksporthalle either: “Luca and Leon are two tough, strong fighters and they will prove their talent on October 22. It was a great pleasure to work with Kalle and Wasserman Boxing to make this happen. It’s important for German boxing that we all work together and stage big events like this. All the fans from Frankfurt and Offenbach can look forward to an amazing atmosphere on fight night!“

Fight week!

Any TV ?

Shame this isn't on UK tv..

Date: Saturday 22 October 2022
Location: Fabriksporthalle - Frankfurt, Germany
TV/Stream: ESPN+

Start Times
ESPN+: 1:05 pm ET | 10:05 am PT | 6:05 pm BST (Main Card)

Promoted by: Wasserman Boxing

Fight Card

12 Round Light Heavyweight Bout
Leon Bunn vs. Padraig McCrory

6 Round Featherweight Bout
Kurt Walker vs. Sandro Jajanidze

6 Round Super Welterweight Bout
Kieran Molloy vs. Yin Caicedo

6 Round Bantamweight Bout
Bilgenur Aras vs. Oksana Romanova

6 Round Heavyweight Bout
Daniel Dietz vs. Gyorgy Kutasi

4 Round Super Middleweight Bout
Allen Bauer vs. Renato Balogh

4 Round Middleweight Bout
Ryszard Lewicki vs. Merab Turkadze

I'll be there for the main event.

skanksta wrote: ↑22 Oct 2022, 11:01 I'll be there for the main event.

Probable be around 10 pm UK time.

molloy is fighting now

Yeah, should get a KO soon hopefully...

I refuse to start learning the intricacies of the IBO ranking meetings...

Main event should be around 10?

seemed a decent 3rd win from molloy he looks older than 23 he is quite built good hands didnt ko the oppo who did make it akward tho i would say decent enough win

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Oct 2022, 15:11 Main event should be around 10?

probably , maybe 9.45

Great atmosphere from the Irish fans

on now the fight

paddy has bunn down in the 2nd bunn makes the bell

paddy has bunn down in the 3rd bunn makes the bell again lands a punch at the end

The Ref holding Bunn up and rescuing him x2

rd 4 both tiring paddy landing the bigger blows still trying to get bunn out of there

rd 5 bunn looked to be finding his feet paddy hit right on the chin wobbled him