Dunne ready for first title defence

Dunshaughlin boxing promoter Brian Peter's protége Bernard Dunne faces the challenge of mandatory challenger Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym in the Hunky Dorys World Title Fight Night at The O2 on Saturday night, 26th September, with the Dubliner's WBA Super Bantamweight title on the line. The Thai challenger is predicting a KO win inside seven rounds but the champion has his own ideas. "He's been the mandatory challenger for this title for 18 months now," said Dunne. "He says he's been made to wait but as soon as I won the belt I was happy to give him his chance, so lets see what he's made of now. I know what I'm up against, we've studied him and come up with a game plan. He's an excellent fighter but at this level you're always going to come up against top level operators." Dunne hopes to be even better then he was back in March when he took the title from then champion Ricardo Cordoba in 11 breathtaking rounds on an incredible night at The O2. Dunne V Poonsawat headlines the Hunky Dorys World Title Fight Night with 6 foot 9 inch unbeaten heavyweight Tyson Fury featuring on the undercard in a special attraction against Tomas Mrazek of the Czech Republic. An intriguing All-Irish affair will see undefeated duo Jamie Power (Limerick) and Michael Sweeney (Mayo) put their unbeaten records on the line against each other over eight rounds at Light Heavyweight. Reigning Irish Welterweight champion, Stephen Haughian will also feature as he takes on Estonia's Albert Starikov while three Dublin favourites also take to the ring with current Irish and IBF International Featherweight champ Patrick Hyland, former Irish Lightweight champ Oisin Fagan and exciting Middleweight Anthony Fitzgerald featuring in separate bouts. Doors open at The 02 at 6.30pm with the first bout at 7pm. The event is live on RTÉ TWO from 9.30pm. Bernard Dunne says he wants to win the fight in memory of Darren Sutherland from Navan, the Olympic medallist boxer whose funeral took place this week.