Boxing News Boxing News
European super-bantamweight champion Rendall Munroe has thrown a lifeline to the fading career of Bernard Dunne.
The Leicester binman is willing to risk next year’s world title challenge against WBC 8st 10lb champion Toshiaki Nishioka and face the Irishman first.
Munroe (20-1) is ranked second in the world by the WBC and underlined his world title credentials outpointing Simone Maludrottu last week.
It was the fifth title defence by the southpaw who took the title from Kiko Martinez – who had flattened Dunne in 86 seconds.
Munroe has since repeated that win over Martinez, while poor Dunne’s career is in the doldrums after losing his WBA crown in three rounds to Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym in September.
Munroe’s promoter Frank Maloney said: “We made a fantastic offer for Bernard to face Munroe last year and I never heard a word from Dunne’s camp.
“I am now willing to make them another offer to face Munroe early next year if they are brave enough to step forward. All his manager, Brian Peters has to do is call and lets see if he is up for the challenge, but somehow I doubt it.
“People might think I’m crazy to want the match, but Rendall could do with a knockout before facing Nishioka.”
Maloney also hit out at internet criticism of Munroe, who has held the European title since February 2008 and also won the Commonwealth title.
He added: “It is unfair on Rendall, but he has got big shoulders and just laughs off the criticism from people.
“I do get angry because he has made five defences, and beaten two mandatory challenges who are world class, Martinez and Maludrottu.
“Martinez was unbeaten in 17 when Rendall beat him for the first time. Maludrottu is a top drawer, made six defences of the European bantamweight title and last 12 rounds in a world title challenge in Japan.
“Rendall is one of the strongest super-bantamweights in the world and a top class pressure fighter.
