Bernard Dunne has been treading water in unfamiliar territory of late but with a return to National Stadium imminent, the former European super-bantamweight champion is focused on regaining his title, though he's not sure the incumbent is as keen as he is.
Dunne failed to convince in defeating 35-year-old Venezuelan Felix Machado in Castlebar in April, but won in 10 rounds. On Saturday week, he will need a better performance against a younger fitter opponent, Argentina's Damian Marchiano, if he is to force England's Rendall Munroe into the ring.
Munroe made Dunne's conqueror, Kiko Martinez, look ordinary when the pair met in Nottingham in March. Though the fight went the distance Munroe was rarely troubled and 'La Sensacion' looked a shadow of the fighter that hushed the Point Theatre by flooring Dunne in the fist round to the claim the title in August last year.
Since then Munroe has defended his title once, in a seven round stoppage of Salem Bouaita, but the Frenchman's record of 19 wins and 12 losses was hardly one to instil fear in a champion.
A win over Marchiano would be Dunne's 26th in a career that has seen just one defeat and the Dubliner feels that record would be more worthy of a title shot.
"I want my old title back," Dunne said today. "I hear Munroe's not all that keen on giving me an opportunity so we might have to just try and force his hand by waiting for the EBU to make me his mandatory challenger."
Dunne, however, would do well not to get too concerned with Munroe, for Marchiano, like Martinez, is a powerful puncher.
"I've watched a DVD of him and he's a very aggressive fighter. He likes to press the action and is constantly on the front foot. He likes to drag the other guy into his kind of fight."
The 28-year-old has a record of 15 wins and four losses but he has "mixed in very good company ", according to Dunne, "and there's no shame in losing to the guys he has lost to.
"Abner Mares is very highly rated and one of the big up and coming stars in the US. Last time out he lost to Silence Mabuza for the IBO title but for me Mabuza is probably the best bantamweight in the world right now and certainly the best puncher in that weight division."
Dunne will move up two pounds to make the catch weight for the fight but insists it's not a sign of things to come.
"I suppose there will always be options at featherweight but super-bantamweight is where I'm most comfortable. This fight is a non title fight so it's been made at a catch weight but super bantam is where I see my future."
