BOXING NEWS: BERNARD DUNNE is fighting Ricardo Cordoba for the WBA World Super Bantamweight title on Saturday night, largely because none of the credible world title holders would agree to meet the Panamanian.

Just why that is so remains a mystery. Still, Dunne has been installed by Ladbrokes at 2 to 1 with Cordoba a short price favourite at 1 to 3.

“Nobody wants to fight him. Credit to you (Promoter, Brian Peters) and Bernard,” said Cordoba’s American manager, Richard Doball, yesterday.

Claiming to be as fit as he has ever been in his career, the Irish challenger is content with the way the straws are blowing in the wind but hardly blind to the task ahead.

Based in Belfast and away from the limelight that so blinded Olympic silver medallist Ken Egan, Dunne is quietly basking in the underdog status.

“If they are willing to travel to Dublin, it says a lot,” he said in his final conference with Cordoba before the O2 meeting. It does too. The point is moot.

“Ricardo is a fantastic fighter and a good mover,” added Dunne.

“This is the top step in the ladder. But we have got the tools in our bag to go to war with him.”

Certainly Cordoba will pick up a bigger cheque from the reported one million pot that has been used to stage the event than he would if the fight were going ahead in Panama City.

But taking Dunne on in Dublin is a calculated risk. He is gambling on his ability despite having had poor decisions against him in Germany, where he drew and in Thailand where he lost.

Dunne is the world champion’s first title defence.

“I don’t see those experiences of fighting outside of Panama as negative,” said Cordoba.

“They were some of my best fights even though I didn’t win. I have plans for life. I don’t just defend my title in Panama. This is the first of many defences abroad.”

It is difficult to believe that Cordoba’s calling in the sport is to evangelise boxing outside of Panama. Still, he is seen as a significant move up in class for the Dubliner and has had Panamanian World Bantamweight Champion, Anselmo Moreno, over in Ireland sparring.

But Dunne looks to his own preparations and ability for salvation, not as was suggested yesterday, to Britain’s Amir Kahn, whose win over former legend Antonio Barrera came after a similar career-denting knockout.

“Kahn, no. I take my encouragement from how prepared I am, how I’m looking in the gym, how the last fights have gone,” said Dunne.

“I know this guy is going to present a completely different package. But the pressure is off me. He has everything to lose, I’ve everything to win.

“I’m in perfect physical condition. I plan to give everything I’ve got and I’m ready to win a world title for Ireland.”

Cordoba has been training out in the Olympic Training Centre at the National Stadium, while the fight venue, O2, is a few hundred tickets short of its 9,000 seat capacity being sold out.

RTÉ television is screening live bouts from 9.00pm to 12.30am with world lightweight amateur champion Katie Taylor, professional middleweight prospect, Andy Lee and finally Dunne all live.

Six professional and three amateur fights fill the bill in the first mixed event of its kind in Ireland.

Your prediction, Cordoba was asked.

“Ricardo Cordoba still champion in his first world title defence,” came the champions reply.

Dunne smiled and was again non-committal, more removed from the younger, brasher fighter of four years ago. He looked up.

“I’m buzzing, absolutely buzzing for this fight,” he said.

“It can’t come quick enough.”