South Roscommon kickboxer looking forward to world title fight in Dublin

"A massive opportunity" is how South Roscommon kickboxer Gary McDonnell described the news that he will be fighting for a WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organisations) professional world title in Dublin in less than two months' time.

The 31-year-old Ballyforan man is preparing to face Norway's T Henry MacPherson for the WAKO pro full-contact super lightweight world title. The bout will take place in the sports hall at the Irish Wheelchair Association's facility in Clontarf on May 11.

McDonnell's bout with MacPherson will be a twelve rounder and looks set to be a closely contested affair.

"Myself and Henry are no strangers to one another, as we have fought before in the past and have both beaten one another," Gary McDonnell told the Westmeath Independent.

"I am ranked number one in the world rankings, and he is ranked number two, so it's going to be very competitive!"

The local man has enjoyed a string of successes in his sport over recent years, including winning the European championship in the lightweight division in Turkey in November 2022.

Early last year he rose to the top of the WAKO world rankings at 60kg following a gold medal success at the Austrian Classics WAKO World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria.

McDonnell had a bout in Dublin last April, but most of his big contests to date have taken place overseas.

He said the fact that the world title fight would be happening on home soil would make it a particularly special night for him.

McDonnell said all local support on the night would be appreciated, and he will have tickets for sale shortly.

A co-main event on the night will see his Irish kickboxing teammate, Damian Darker, defending his WAKO pro European title against Lazar Klikovac of Montenegro.

Gary McDonnell's journey in combat sports began as a teenager when he trained in Taekwondo, under Joe Gill and Conor Dunne, in the Athlone Regional Sports Centre.

He then made the switch to kickboxing when he was 19.