Boxing:Bernard Dunne's much anticipated second defence of his European title will pit him against Norwegian Reidar Walstad in the Point Depot on June 23rd, and will have the extra draw of Wayne McCullough on the undercard.
As Dunne aims to climb even higher in the regard of boxing fans worldwide McCullough returns for his first fight in the capital for 12 years.
Dunne's challenger is ranked number three in Europe and has already beaten the Dubliner as an amateur when he won by 9-2 at the European championships in 1998.
The champion was at pains to point out today that he is a different fighter now and remains on course to extend his unbeaten professional run to 24, in his third bout at the Point.
At 30 years of age Walstad's record is nowhere near as impressive but the Norwegian still has 16 wins, one defeat and one draw and appeared confident of relieving Dunne of his European Super-bantamweight title, claiming that he will knock the Neilstown fighter out.
"There is going to be another Viking invasion in June and I know the European title is coming back to Norway," said the Tronheim fighter today. "This is the title I want, for me the European title is more important than winning a world title because there is only one European title but there are many versions of the world title.
"Sure, after I beat Bernard I would like to win a world title but Bernard's belt is the one I really want."
Dunne claimed the title when he defeated Britain's Esham Pickering on points in Dublin last year. He then comfortably disposed of Kazakhstan's Yersin Jailauov in three rounds in March.
McCullough will be fighting in Dublin for the first time in two years, since losing a WBC title shot.
Though his opponent has not yet been named the Belfast man said today: "It will be great to fight in Dublin again. It's been too long since my last fight there and I've always wanted to fight in front of the Dublin fans again.
"When I signed with Frank Warren a few years back the plan was to fight in Belfast and Dublin. I got to fight in Belfast but a Dublin fight never came off so I'm delighted that Brian Peters has given me the chance to fight there again."