Florida key for McCrory

BOXING loves a Cinderella story. Fighting for the first time in the United States, Belfast’s Padraig McCrory is aiming for his very own fairytale finish on Saturday night.

Though unbeaten, McCrory is cast in the role of victim against American prospect Edgar Berlanga, also undefeated, in Florida. But, as the Rocky films remind us, the underdog has always had a part to play in the old fight game.

At 35, victory would introduce McCrory to the wider boxing world, offering a route to the big time he never imagined would be his when he outpointed Jacob Lucas in a four-rounder on an SSE Arena undercard in Belfast seven years ago. McCrory (below) had Lucas over in the first round with a right hand that flagged his best chance of an upset in Orlando.

Though he has dispatched only half of his 18 opponents early, the right hand was prominent every time. McCrory meets Berlanga at super-middleweight but having campaigned at light heavyweight, too, will hope his weight of punch is more persuasive.

Berlanga started out as a middleweight, blowing away each of his first 16 opponents in the first round. His last five fights, all at super-middle, have gone the distance, giving McCrory further hope.

Berlanga rolls forward and is aggressive. He clearly hits hard but you need more than that to distinguish yourself at the top level. He has taken the McCrory fight believing it a secure path to a moneyspinner against cash cow Saul Alvarez.

Don’t they all? Berlanga is in a dance with David Benavidez for that privilege.

McCrory will look to cause problems in the early rounds, to take Berlanga by surprise then capitalise on any mistakes.

As much as I would love to see McCrory realise his dream, I anticipate Berlanga finding his range in the second half of the fight and maybe getting the knockout count rolling again in the championship rounds.