February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
According to the unbeaten featherweight, 14-0 (8 KOs) after his bruising win over Mexican super bantamweight champ Adrian Valdez last month, he has no additional fights scheduled before 2005.
Dunne told the Echo recently that it would be six to eight weeks before he can spar again on account of the cut he received on the forehead from an inadvertent Valdez head butt, and that “there’s nothing scheduled for the rest of the year.”
His Dublin-based manager, Brian Peters, was quoted by the Belfast Telegraph last week as saying the fighter would remain in the gym after the cut heals to continue his tutelage under trainer Freddie Roach.
“Bernard had to dig deep and come through a hard fight, which was good to see, but still there are some things there that he has to work on,” Peters reportedly told the paper.
Dunne, however, dismissed notions that his impending inactivity would be a case of going back to the drawing board.
“There’re a couple of injuries to take care of and there’s nothing scheduled for the rest of the year,” he insisted.
WAYNE ENDORSEMENT
Dunne, meanwhile, has endorsed his idol, Wayne McCullough’s latest title bid saying the “Pocket Rocket” can still be a contender.
“Wayne comes down next week. I spoke to him and he’s in great shape,” Dunne said. “I still believe that he’s good enough to fight for a world title.”
McCullough, who lives in Las Vegas, has hired Roach who works with Dunne at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
A former world bantamweight titlist, McCullough will end an 18-month hiatus on Sept. 23 against Mike Juarez.