Fight week brings certain challenges with unfamiliar surroundings and weight to be made, but Belfast’s Sean McComb has had an added burden with the passing of a grandparent.
As Belfast’s ‘Public Nuisance’ touched down in Monaco prior to Saturday night’s light-welterweight bout with undefeated local Hugo Micallef, his family were laying his grandmother Jean to rest.
However, there was no question the 33-year-old southpaw, with a record of 20 wins and two losses, would withdraw from the Monte Carlo card which is topped by a European super-bantamweight title fight between Shabaz Masoud and Peter McGrail.
McComb’s second career defeat was hotly disputed when Arnold Barboza claimed an April 2024 split decision verdict in New York, leaving the Belfast men frozen out of action for 14 months as the risk to face him seemed greater than the reward.
Two wins on the road earlier this year against Ben Crocker and Alexis Torres have him back on track and he has no issues going into enemy territory once more despite his personal grief.
“Monaco Federation have high expectations of Hugo Micallef and what he brings to the table and I have full belief and trust in my own ability to overcome any challenge,” he said at Thursday’s news conference.
“Whether it’s in someone else’s back garden, this is what I train for and the opportunities I want.
“My family is burying my grandmother today, so it just shows how hungry I am to be here. This is the opportunity I want and I’m well ready for it.”
