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Boxing

Heavyweight McBride set for world title shot

07/06/2006

Irish heavyweight Kevin McBride has revealed he is in line for a world title shot against WBO champion Serguei Lyakhovich later this summer.

The 33-year-old US-based fighter will take on the Belarussian Lyakhovich on August 5th at an as yet unconfirmed stateside venue.

"I am now with [promoter] Don King and he has assured me I will be fighting for the world title in August," McBride said.

"This is what I have dreamed of since I was a boy and I believe in the next week or so everything will be signed and sealed."

McBride boasts a decent pro record of 34 wins, 29 coming via knockout, one draw and four losses during his 39-fight career.

He has, however, fought largely journeymen boxers and his biggest fight to date remains his not altogether surprising defeat of former undisputed world champion Mike Tyson in Washington in June last year.

This win, which came after England's own Danny Williams had also knocked out an ageing Tyson, has since been followed only by an unspectacular win over American Byron Polley but the King influence appears to have landed him his dream shot.

Champ Lyakhovich, 30, boasting 23 wins, 13 KOs, and one loss, secured the title in April this year by outpointing American Lamon Brewster.

But he is seen as vulnerable by pundits and McBride insists: "Lyakhovich is a very good champion - he's got that good win over Brewster - but I know I can shake up the world again."

Brixton Bomber Williams, who had been promised another world title shot himself, will be distraught at the news as he believes he should be next in line for a world title shot.

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