A Co Tyrone boxer is heading to Philadelphia in the spring of this year to hopefully continue his winning streak in the US.
Feargal McCrory will be venturing stateside to take on a yet-to-be-confirmed opponent in the city's 2300 Arena on Friday, April 14 in a match that comes hot on the heels of two recent wins in both New York and Atlantic City.
The 30-year-old from Coalisland, Co Tyrone, is a former four-time amateur and one-time professional champion and has boxed internationally as an amateur for Ireland from a young age.
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Since becoming a professional boxer in 2016, he's sailed past 52 rounds of tough competition to secure wins in all of his 13 fights, meaning he is no stranger to the glory and the grind.
But despite the various accolades he has collected throughout his career so far, Feargal says it is the lure of competing in the US, namely big cities like Philadelphia, that 'get him out of bed in the morning'.
The dad-of-two even harbors aspirations of becoming world champion one day - and believes making a name for himself on the east coast will bring him one step closer to fulfilling that dream.
Feargal told the Irish Star : "I really want to be based in the US for the rest of my career. Something about Philly, Boston, and Atlantic City really appeals to me and gets me excited.
"I've never been someone who needed extra motivation but the thought of being in these places gives me an extra push on rainy mornings to get outside and run five miles.
"I have relatives and friends in Philly so I always head there for the weekend whenever I'm in New York to relax and escape the hustle and bustle. I've had to work hard to get out there so I'll need to work even harder to stay.
"Luckily, I've met very good Irish people out there who have pointed me in the right direction. I now have a great team in place who will allow me to perform to the best of my ability."
Feargal's hugely impressive success could be partly accredited to the dedication, passion, and patriotism of his traveling support, who follow the dad-of-two across the pond to cheer him on at every match.
The Irish-American community is a massive part of that, Feargal says, as he describes how ex-pats and descendants alike have 'taken him in as one of their own', and contributed to the large crowds he's seen on his US tour so far - turn-outs he is sure will be replicated when he arrives in the City of Brotherly Love in a couple of months' time.
Feargal continued: "I'm so blessed and fortunate that Irish people out there have taken to me really well. I get loads of people from homecoming over - there are a large number of people making the trip out to Philly, in fact.
"At my last fight, an Irishman came from San Francisco to see me. The support is crazy. I've gained a lot of boxing fans now from being in the US. Irish people just want to support someone from home and their support is unrivaled.
"Boxing is a business, too, so I was mindful of basing myself in places - one where I was going to sell tickets. It's difficult leaving my wife and kids but the east coast, with that Irish connection, always makes me feel part of something."
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In the meantime, Feargal is focused on preparing his body and mind for another knock-out in Pennsylvania. The sportsman's eyes are firmly on the prize, though, as he maintains he is 'always going to win, no matter what'.
Feargal added: " coronavirus >Covid had a big effect on me. It took away the best years of my career. I'm still fresh for 30 but I want to be in great fights and I want to be world champion. I believe I'm good enough.
"In terms of a legacy, I want to look back and say, remember that night we were in Madison Square Garden, or Philadelphia?
"Whatever accolades come with that will be a big bonus but I just want to represent all the Irish people that come out and support me with great pride."
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