McIntyre vows to thrill Portsmouth crowd

That’s the promise of Leigh Park light-heavyweight Joel McIntyre in advance of tomorrow’s eight-round British Challenge belt fight against Slovakian Vladimir Idranyi at Portsmouth’s Liquid & Envy nightclub.

After a frustrating 18 months, in which the 28-year-old has boxed just once and changed management to the respected Steve Goodwin outfit, McIntyre is determined to lay the past to rest and make an emphatic start to the next stage of his career.

He said: ‘I just can’t wait to get in that ring – I need to let off the steam.

‘There’s been a lot of hard work getting to this point.

‘I haven’t boxed in Portsmouth for a while and it’s always good being in front of my home crowd, that’s always special.

‘I’m glad it’s an afternoon show too because people can come and watch and then spend time at home with their families afterwards, it’s a really nice vibe.

‘All the circumstances leading up to this one, not fighting for a while and now having an opponent who says he’s coming to really fight has made me determined to put on a good show.’

Idranyi sensationally stopped prospect Charlie Duffield last month, and is said to be looking past McIntyre, who is relishing the challenge.

McIntyre said: ‘There are some fighters who are happy just fighting journeymen, but I’m not like that.

‘I have a responsibility to the fans but also to myself to take on live opponents.

‘I’m a warrior and I don’t want to be fighting idiots or boxers who just come to survive.’

In a 14-fight career, McIntyre has lost just once, a close decision to Miles Shinkwin for the Southern Area title in July 2014.

He said: ‘I don’t know what sort of fight Idranyi is planning on having against me, but I think he’ll come in and try to take my head off.

‘That would be perfect for me because people make mistakes when they get reckless and if he does, it may only take one shot from me.

‘It’s important for me to make a statement, and with Idranyi having decisively beaten a good lad in his last fight we wanted him.

‘He’ll bring the best out of me I think, because he brings that element of danger.

‘Training with John Murray has been great as he knows me well and really works me hard.

‘I feel in great shape and I’m looking forward to taking that Challenge belt home and showing my boy Lucas.

‘The English and Southern Area titles are out there for me too and hopefully the British too at some point down the line.

‘The future looks bright but I have to make sure I treat each fight as seriously as possible and not get complacent.

‘I have had a stop-start career, and maybe not achieved what I should, but there’s no excuses now.

‘I believe I have got that killer instinct.

‘I am going to deliver tomorrow and turn in a full-on performance.’