By Brendan Galbraith: Irish Light Heavyweight (8-1-1) Michael ‘The Storm’ Sweeney contacted me to respond about some of the comments made by Darren Corbett in my recent interview and also made it clear that he is willing to travel to Belfast, if need be, to get it on with Corbett at Light Heavy or at a catch weight.
Sweeney who hails from Mayo, said: “I was looking at Eastsideboxing.com and I saw the thing [article] on Darren Corbett and I just wanted to reply on what he had said. In a recent interview with boxing247.com, Darren Corbett dismissed Sweeney as “useless”. Sweeney contacted me to reply to this and retorted:
“I respect Darren as a fighter and I still do. I would respect any fighter that has the balls to get into the ring and I wouldn’t run down any fighter and the phrase that he used “useless” – to be honest – he is miles away on that. But I presume it’s just to get somebody in the ring and that’s what he wants – so I wouldn’t take it personally..
Sweeney, commenting on the prospect of meeting Corbett in the ring said:
“I was ranked at the Cruiserweight division for a while, but came down to Light heavy – so if Darren could come down to Light Heavy there is no problems stepping into the ring. Even if he couldn’t make it to Light Heavyweight, I would meet him at a catch weight. I would still want to prove that I can step in the ring with him and beat him. I believe I have everything over him now. I have the age, I am only 27 and I think he is 37 – I won’t go on the age of it but he has been inactive for a while. I have the height, reach, skill and power, so I believe I have too much in the bag for him now. If he wants to get it on – no problem”.
Incidentally, I also spoke briefly to Darren Corbett today and he confirmed to me that he would “fight Sweeney tomorrow”.
I also asked Sweeney about his last appearance in the ring (just before Christmas last year) against Felipe Romero (5-4-1) in Mexico were, despite having Romero down on the canvas twice and winning on points, he was unexpectedly halted in the last round.
“I’d signed up with Banner Promotions and a few fights were falling through and then I was anxious to get a fight in and then I got a call in to fight in Mexico. I know it is a bit far away and all that, but the opponent I thought was grand. But then when I arrived out (to Mexico) there was a bit of a weight difference – he was around Cruiserweight.”
“I still took the fight and it was going good I had him down in Round 2 and 6 and was winning the fight and then all of a sudden I got caught with a left hook and I kind of stumbled a bit. I probably should have got down and took the count but probably due to a lack of experience I stayed up, but I was in a bit of a daze and got hit again. I kind of went down and the referee waved it off. I thought he maybe could have gave me a count because he had gave him (the opponent) two counts already in Round 2 and 6. In Round 6 he was really in danger to be honest, he struggled up onto his feet and then went back down and took the count and the referee still gave the count – I thought he could have waved it off.”
“But look it happens. I haven’t left the gym since that. If you are going to lose you are better to lose earlier on in your career than later. I am anxious to get back in and I would step back in for an Irish Title Fight straight away after that loss – so there is no problem fighting soon again.”
I concluded in my earlier article with the rhetorical question of who would be willing to step up to the plate to meet Corbett for his Cruiserweight Title. Well, there is certainly a match to be made with Sweeney, although not at Cruiserweight, but perhaps at Light Heavy or a catch weight? On paper, this translates to an intriguing and potentially explosive fight, as both men possess KO power. ‘The Storm versus The Raging Bull’ – it sounds good too.