Murphy to defend Commonwealth title live on BBC Sport

Colm Murphy will defend his Commonwealth silver featherweight title against Kasimu Hamad Haji at the Ulster Hall on Saturday, 1 February live across BBC Sport NI.

In the co-main event, John Cooney will put his Celtic super-featherweight belt on the line against Welshman Nathan Howells.

The 'Nations Fight Night' card will feature former European cruiserweight champion Tommy McCarthy with Jack O'Neill, Charles McDonagh, Teo Alin and Kate Radaomska also in action.

The Belfast event will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport NI website with legendary commentator Jim Neilly calling the action.

"I'm fully in camp now. There might be a wee break on Christmas day but on boxing day you can guarantee I'll be in the gym training hard," said Murphy, who defeated Erick Omar Lopez in November.

Murphy added that fighting in the Ulster Hall is "special" and he hopes that having the event streamed across BBC Sport will help put more eyes on the sport.

"It's really is special, my grandad used to come here [to the Ulster Hall] a lot," he added.

"He's not here now to see me fight but I know that he's somewhere very proud.

"My granny over in London has never seen me fight but hopefully she'll now have a chance to watch."

McCarthy says it is "very exciting" to be fighting at the Ulster Hall and there is "a real sense of history".

"It's great to be in the Ulster Hall again. It's iconic and all the greats come through here," said the 34-year-old.

After losing his European cruiserweight title to Chris Billam-Smith in 2021, McCarthy has since lost three of his six bouts.

However, he feels he still has what it takes to reach that level again.

"I wouldn't do it if I didn't think I could operate at the highest level.

"I had a close fight with Chris Billam-Smith, who went on to become the champion. Anyone who has beaten me has been at the top of the food chain.

"I belong in that company. Over the next couple of years I'm going to get the head down and get back to where I belong."