Ormond fully appreciates the threat Luna poses in title eliminator

By Stephen Leonard

STEPHEN Ormond is by no means underestimating the challenge of Alejandro Luna in their IBF Lightweight title eliminator in the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia this weekend.

The unbeaten Mexi-can-American is a highly rated prospect, nine years Ormond’s junior and could prove his toughest test.
“He [Luna] looks good and he’s top 10 IBF so I’m expecting a great fight” Ormond told The Echo.

“I’m just going to fight round by round and do what I always do” he added.

This fight, which will be shown live on BT Sports at 2am (Irish time) and will be on the undercard of the David Benavidez clash with Denis Douglin.

It will mark Ormond’s fourth straight fight in the US where he has won every time including, most recently, his battle with Marcos Jimenez for the IBF Inter-Continental Lightweight crown back in March.

Victory this weekend would see the Clondalkin man well in line to oppose the winner of the fight for the vacant IBF World Lightweight title between Robert Easter Jr and Richard Commey which takes place in Santander Arena, Pennsylvania next month.

Ormond, with a professional record of 21 wins and just two defeats, has taken some big scalps in his career, including Derry Mathews in their WBO European Lightweight title clash back in 2013.

He lost that crown to Terry Flanagan just over a year later, but has bounced back with four straight victories as he works his way back into the big time.

Yet Luna will be no easy game for Ormond and, with 15 of his 20 wins coming by way of knockout, he provides a major obstacle to a World title crack for the Dubliner.