BELFAST’S PAUL HYLAND Jr will challenge for the EBU European lightweight title in Milan on Friday 28 June, it has been confirmed.
Hyland Jr [20-1, 7KOs] will face Belgium’s Francesco Patera [21-3, 7KOs], who will defend the blue belt in his parents’ homeland on Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Italy card.
Patera ripped the title from Newcastle’s Lewis Ritson in the former champion’s hometown back in October, inflicting a first career defeat upon the highly touted Geordie. In a continental carousel of sorts, Ritson had four months previously dished out a first defeat to Hyland, blowing away the Belfast man in a whirlwind first round.
‘Hylo’ rebounded with decision wins over Giovanny Martinez and Miroslav Serban in Tallaght and Belfast respectively.
Victory over Patera at Milan’s historic Allianz Cloud arena — formerly the Palalido — would propel the 28-year-old to the fringes of world-title contention.
The bout will be broadcast live on DAZN in the USA, while TV scheduling for Ireland and the UK — or lack thereof — is yet to be confirmed.
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