'Best I've ever felt': Jordan Furey ready for pro debut

Jordan Furey says he has cut no corners ahead of his professional debut on Sunday.

The Letterkenny mixed martial artist features on the Clan Wars 47 card in Belfast, headlined by Movlle's Darragh Kelly.

Furey goes up against Brazilian Gabriel Marcello at lightweight in the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The 23-year-old is based with Straight Blast Gym in Dublin and the 10-2 amateur feels he is ready for his professional bow.

Sea views giving Darragh Kelly a new outlook

“This is the best I have ever felt,” Furey told Donegal Live. “Since I came to Dublin two years ago this is what I have been working towards. I'm feeling good.

“I've had good sparring against some tough lads. The sparring has been a very high level. I have really upped it this time and cut no corners.”

In the amateur ranks, Furey was a two-time Shock 'n' Awe titlist.

In March, he overcame Charlie Hatton in Portsmouth to win the lightweight title, having defeated Connor Tymon in October to grab the welterweight crown.

Furey will be back by a boisterous support on Sunday when he fights in Ireland for the first time since February 2022.

He said: “I had good crowds to my fights in Portsmouth, but there'll be a big crowd in Belfast on Sunday.

“I'm very fortunate to have good support in Letterkenny and around Donegal. I've been lucky with my sponsors too. Without them, I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing so I'm looking froward now to getting the pro career started off.

Furey and rising Bellator ace Kelly have become good friends. Kelly tops the bill with the Clan Wars lightweight belt up for grabs when he clashes with Andre Ferreira, another Brazilian.

Furey said: “The guy I'm fighting is a team-mate of the guy Darragh fights. It's Donegal v Brazil for the first time in history.

“It's great to be on the same card as Darragh again. I didn't see that happening again for a long time. Any time the two of us have fought on a card before, we both got stoppage wins.

“I haven't looked past Sunday. There has been some talk about different things, but I just want to get in there now and get the job done. I'd love to get started with a nice finish and a nice knockout.”