BBC SPORT | Boxing | McCullough eyes title bid

Belfast's big two boxing kings Wayne McCullough and Neil Sinclair are on course for a double world title show in their home town in February.

Following victories at a sell-out Maysfield Leisure Centre in the city on Saturday evening, promoter Frank Warren is eager to fast-track both onto the world scene.

Pictures from the fight

After relentlessly pounding Russian Nikolai Emeerev into submission, McCullough now looks set to fight WBO super-bantamweight champion Joan Guzman for his crown.

McCullough would also like a crack at Scotland's newly-crowned WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison.

Sinclair was even more ruthless in stopping Londoner Paul Knights in the second round to retain his British Welterweight title for the second time.

Warren says that both could fill the 10,000-capacity Odyssey Arena in the new year.

Neil SInclair kept his British welterweight title
Neil Sinclair would like Lonsdale belt for keeps

"Wayne is a star and he deserves to be on the big stage and that's where I want him to be," said Warren.

"I'm looking a world title for him and Neil in February and we're looking at the Odyssey Arena.

"Wayne showed a little rust, but I think it's time to move him into world title fight.

''He's 32 and has plenty of experience.

"Wayne will go and talk it over with his team, we'll have a meeting and decide which one to take. Either fight would be great."

McCullough, who flies back to his Las Vegas home this week for a short break, is unperturbed at either world title clash.

"I'll talk to my coach and we'll see what to do next," he said.

"I've seen both of them and I feel I'm ready now for either of them."

The former WBC bantamweight champion may have one fight in between his world title assault to sharpen his skills which have only been curtailed over the past past two years.

It was great being back in Belfast. The support was fantastic

Wayne McCullough

"With every round I felt I was getting better," said McCullough.

"Eremeev was brave, he took a lot of shots and I could feel that I was hurting him, but he stayed in there and didn't go down.

"It was great being back in Belfast. The support was fantastic. I was just happy to be back in the ring again and I thank God every day for that."

As for Sinclair, who is very keen to make the Lonsdale belt his own, he is also looking to get back in the world title picture.

"The Lonsdale belt means a lot to me so I would like to have one more defence so it's mine forever," said Sinclair, who lost a WBO title challenge against Daniel Santos two years ago.


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