BOXING: Although for some time most observers have agreed that Bernard Dunne is probably Ireland's most talented professional boxer, it has also been felt the 26-year-old super bantamweight needs to take a big scalp. No one doubts Dunne's ability, but he needs now to reach a little further.

In the last 18 months there have been plenty of accusations that the Dubliner has taken the scenic route through a professional career that has left him with a flawless record of 21 wins, no defeats and 12 knock-outs.

Yesterday, at The Point Depot in Dublin, England's Esham Pickering emerged as his next opponent, which will give Dunne the chance to take that next step up in what is a pivotal meeting for the EBU super bantamweight title.

Pickering, who arrived along side the full-time Sheffield trainer and part-time Ringsend philosopher Brendan Ingle, was European champion for almost two years until last October.

Fellow Englishman Michael Hunter ended up on the canvas twice in that bout, but emerged a controversial winner on a majority decision.

On slim pickings, two of the three judges went with Hunter and the third declared the fight a draw. In short, Pickering, with a record of 29 wins and four defeats, is looking for a way back.

On November 11th, in The Point, the 30-year-old will become the gateway for Dunne to a probable world title fight.

There are invariably questions over the worth of some titles, but seven Irish fighters - Steve Collins, Noel and Eamonn Magee, Des Rea, Sam Storey, Billy Kelly, Mick Leahy and Brian Magee - have come up short when looking for the European belt.

Only four have succeeded: Rinty Monaghan, Ray Close, Charlie Nash and Barry McGuigan. A win for Dunne would put him in an exclusive club.

"I'll be sad to say goodbye to the Stadium," he said yesterday of the move from the musty, 2,000-capacity stadium to the 6,000-seat venue.

"I've had some wonderful nights there, but I think for this fight we had to get somewhere bigger and, well, it doesn't get much bigger than The Point.

"It's probably the most significant fight in Ireland for over a decade so it seems a natural step to go there. I had said at the start of the year that I wanted to finish 2006 as the European champion, and Brian (Peters, manager) has worked very hard to deliver that opportunity for me.

"It's the next logical step for me in my career and I feel I'm ready for it."

Dunne's toughest opponent has been Yuri Voronin, who went the full 10 rounds in May of last year before the Irishman narrowly won on points after the Russian rocked him in the final round and Dunne's instincts kept him upright. Pickering will not be underestimated.

"Esham is an excellent fighter. I've seen him fight a few times now and I thought he was unfortunate to lose the title against Hunter. He sees me as a way of winning his title back, but I have other ideas.

"Obviously this is for the European title, so it's a new level for me. But I'm confident that I can step up to that level without any problems."

Dunne has always been able to back up the talk, and, in Ingle, he will also know that in Pickering's corner is a canny operator. Ingle brought Naseem Hamed to prominence before the fighter dropped him, dropped out of boxing and wound up in prison for a driving offence.

Ingle has also guided world champions Johnny Nelson and Junior Witter and is rarely short of a colourful word.

"I've known Brian Peters for many, many years and we're great friends," said Ingle. "But in this business you're pals yesterday, fight today and pals again tomorrow. That's the way things work."

But he too sees it as too close a fight to call. "There's no doubt, it's a real 50-50. For me the difference is that my man's been there and been the champion so he knows what it takes," added Ingle.

Pickering's only loss in almost four years has been to Hunter last year. The other nine since September 2002 have been won, six by knock out.

Dunne, as he said he would, is finally stepping up.