The 23-year-old knockout specialist said from his Los Angeles home last weekend that he was back in top shape after a six-week summer break in Dublin and ready to go in the ESPN2 show.
“I feel great. I’ve been sparring well and I’m in great shape,” said Dunne, who has gone a lot of rounds with World Boxing Council super featherweight champ Carlos Hernandez in the gym.
He stayed in shape while in Ireland by training at his father?s new club, St. Matthew BC in Ballyfermot. Brendan Dunne was a 1976 Irish Olympian.
On Soto, Dunne said he knew little about his next opponent apart from the fact that he’s a super featherweight with a 6-4 record (2 KOs).
The baby-faced Dubliner himself is 8-0 (7 KOs) after his last fight, a first-round blowout of Mario Lacey in Chester, W. Va., last July.
That fight was televised nationally by the Showtime cable network and with Friday’s bout on ESPN2, Dunne is happy with the exposure he’s getting so early in his promising career.
O?MALLEY BACK
Putting his unsuccessful bid for the for the North American Boxing Association lightweight belt behind him, Martin O?Malley returns to the ring in a 10-rounder against Canadian Leonardo Rojas at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash, on Saturday, Oct. 11.
In his last appearance at the Emerald Queen, the 280year-old O?Malley, who was born in Edmonds, Wash, but raised in County Wicklow, dropped a unanimous points decision to Luis Villalta last July for the vacant NABA title.
He said from Edmonds last Sunday that he?d put that loss behind him and was ready to continue with his career.
?If anything it has inspired [me],? O?Malley, 23-2, said. ?I want to be competitive and I?m happy to be back.?
He said that he?s trained hard for the Rojas fight and is confident.
?As always, I?m in good shape and looking forward to the fight,? he said.
Apart from the fact that Rojas hails from Winnipeg and has limited experience -? no more than 10 fights with a couple of draws and one no-contest -? O?Malley knows little else about his opponent.
KELLY BEATEN
Damien Kelly failed to answer the bell for the seventh round in Barranquilla, Colombia, last weekend as his challenge for the International Boxing Federation flyweight crown was turned back by defending champion Irene ?Mambaco? Pacheco.
According to reports, Kelly, who is from Belfast, was game until he was wobbled by a powerful right uppercut in the fifth round. He was decked three times in Round 6, forcing his corner to halt the mayhem before the start of the seventh.
Kelly?s record fell to 18-2, while the undefeated Pacheco won his 30th bout.