DUNNE: I'LL THAI HIM IN KNOTS; BERNARD PROMISES TO LEAD BOXING HIS CHALLENGER ON A MERRY DANCE: Poonsawat has shown that he's a great fighter.. but I'm better.

Byline: MICHAEL SCULLY

BERNARD Dunne raised himself off the canvas twice to resurrect his world title dream in March. Tonight he faces a similar legacy moment.

Dunne could be forgiven if he thought he had done the hard part when he clawed victory from the jaws of defeat against Ricardo Cordoba in the spring.

Ireland's rugby team had secured the Grand Slam hours earlier and Dunne's remarkable comeback against the WBA super-bantamweight champ signed off a day of white knuckle drama.

In the aftermath, there was talk from the Dunne camp of heading to Las Vegas to cash in on the new world champion's standing but it was not to be.

Despite efforts to keep him at bay for a fight or two, the mandatory challenger wanted his day in the ring.

Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym had been fobbed off by Cordoba, who thought he would have an easier fight with Dunne than go back in the ring with the Thai.

Now Poonsawat wasn't going to be made wait any longer, and Dunne had no choice but to fight him.

So we're back to the 02 Dublin tonight for the latest chapter of the Dubliner's story.

DELIGHTED "I'm delighted to be able to have my first defence in Ireland," said Dunne.

"We fought so hard to make sure that we got it here - not just for myself, but for the Irish people.

"We worked so hard to get this belt that we felt it was only right that we have our first defence here. Now it's about facing the challenge that lies ahead and Poonsawat is a fantastic fighter, there's no doubt about that.

"He's a brave lad coming to Dublin to fight me in my hometown in front of my home fans. It's going to make for an excellent night of boxing."

Poonsawat might be brave but he is also good. Bloody good. A former Muay Thai kick-boxing star, he has adjusted beautifully to the more conventional sweet science.

A record of Twenty-seven knockouts in 37 fights says it all. His one defeat, in Hamburg three years to Wladimir Siderenko, bore all the hallmarks of a home town decision.

Dunne, too, has only sustained one defeat - to Kiko Martinez - but Poonsawat could well be the most durable opponent he has ever faced. The Neilstown man knows it, too.

Usually Dunne only gets edgy about a week before a fight. On this occasion, despite all the extra work he has put in, he started getting edgy about a month out.

"We managed to secure a couple of DVDs of his last few fights and he's very impressive," commented Dunne.

"There's no doubt about it.

"He's worthy of his position in the world ratings. He's exceptional.

"Thirty-eight wins, 27 kos and ranked so highly in the world because he's exceptional.

"But it's styles that make fights and I think both of our styles are going to make for a great fight.

"I have seen the Cordoba-Poonsawat video. Cordoba is a southpaw so we're looking at different tactics to fighting him.

"I don't think that Cordoba punches harder than I do. I think I definitely punch harder so he's not going to be able to walk straight through.

FIRE "Coming in to me he's going to hit fire. Poonsawat has proven through the years with the calibre of guys he's fought and with his record and his rating, it speaks for itself. This is a guy who can fight, box, punch... everything. But we all know what I can do and the lengths I'm willing to go to to retain my belt."

There are things in Dunne's favour. When they met face to face for the first time in midweek, and again at yesterday afternoon's weigh-in, the height discrepancy was very evident.

It's something the 29-year-old wants to capitalise on.

"The one thing is that he's going to be in range a lot quicker for me to hit him than I will be for him to hit me," he said.

"So for him to attack me there's going to be that split second where I can hit him before he can even be in reach touch me.

"I think it's a definite advantage for me.

"I don't think it will cause me any problems, I'm quite tall for the weight division so I'm used to boxing guys who are smaller than me."

It's also possible that Poonsawat is a little complacent. He has talked himself up and Dunne down since arriving in Dublin on Sunday.

"Please God," said Dunne, when asked if his opponent was too cocky for his own good.

"But I don't think he is underestimating me. He knows what Cordoba was, an excellent fight. I think Cordoba beat him. Cordoba was in his prime against me and I didn't just beat him, I knocked him out.

"Poonsawat didn't, but it was a hard fight for Cordoba to win because he was in Thailand.

"I've done all the training I can and now it's about waiting for it to happen.

"The Cordoba fight is a completely separate affair. It's in the past now. It's not going to do anything for me when I step into the ring with Poonsawat.

"When I step into the ring with him it's a completely different night, it's a completely different moment in time.

"I've just got to make sure that whatever he brings to the table, I bring a little bit more."

Boxing Card (121.5 lbs) BERNARD DUNNE V POONSAWT KRATINGDAENGGYM 12 Rounds for the WBA World Super Bantamweight Title (122 lbs) Tyson Fury (261 pounds) V Tomas Mrazek (222.5 pounds) - 6 Rounds Jamie Power (177.5 lbs) V Michael Sweeney (178.8 lbs) - 8 Rounds Patrick Hyland (126 lbs) V Manuel Sequera (130 lbs) - 8 Rounds Stephen Haughian (149.5 lbs) V Albert Starikov (151.5) - 6 Rounds Oisin Fagan (140.5 lbs) V Juris Ivanovs (142 lbs) - 6 Rounds Anthony Fitzgerald (163.5 lbs) V Tadas Jonkus (159.5 lbs) - 4 Rounds

CAPTION(S):

TOUGH ENOUGH Bernard Dunne got up off the canvas to knock Ricardo Cordoba out and claim the world title READY TO RUMBLEPoonsawat Kratingdaenggym & Bernard Dunne yesterday IN THE PAST Bernard Dunne has moved on since being stopped by Kiko Martinez