Big Belfast chance for red-hot Danny

Danny Quartermaine…in line for a British title eliminator

FOR the first time in his unbeaten, swashbuckling career, Leamington prospect Danny Quartermaine takes a fight where the odds may be in his opponent’s favour.

After 10 straight wins, the 26-year-old is set to face Belfast hope John Cooney in the latter’s home city on January 27.

I understand Quartermaine – a fighter with a huge following – has accepted the British junior-lightweight eliminator. At the time of writing, the Irishman’s team had not given official confirmation.

The bout represents a real calculated risk for Quartermaine – and it’s a measure of the faith those charting his progress have in the fighter. He’ll get few favours in Belfast.

Southpaw Cooney is also unbeaten in 10, but has yet to tread dangerous waters as a pro. Quartermaine, who burns with ambition, represents his first real test.

Edwin Cleary, the former pro guiding Danny’s career, said: “We wouldn’t take it if we didn’t think we’d win.

“Danny’s asked for tough fights and he’s trained all over Christmas. He’s fought in Belfast before as an amateur and won. He’s really looking forward to it.”

Quartermaine is coming off the best win of his career, a victory over unbeaten south coast prospect Jack Hillier. The record books record the result as a technical decision, but Danny had won every round before Hillier’s cuts took it to the scorecards.

He has, to his credit, now upped the ante, which is the way it should be. We can’t gauge the professional potential Quartermaine possesses until he faces fellow hungry young fighters on the rise.

The man himself certainly has lofty self belief.

In a previous interview, he said: “I want to push faster. I want to get on bigger shows, break into TV shows. As an amateur, I competed for four to five years at elite level with the top lads in the country.

“I look at the fighters I faced in the amateurs and what they’ve achieved and think it only brings glory to my name. Even back then I was always told I had a style more suited to the professionals. I’ve always had those energy levels, I’ve always been all action. After three rounds, I felt as if I was just warming-up.”

If Danny walks away from the hotbed of Belfast with a win over one of their own, we’ll know Leamington has spawned a very serious British title contender.