Victor Rabei [10(3)-0] Says Lee Reeves [9(6)-1] or anyone in Ireland can have it once I beat Omar Bordoy [11(3)-1] in America on October 1.
The Moldovan Dub revealed that Conlan Boxing offered him the chance to trade leather with the southpaw from Limerick.
World title challengers Jamie Conlan and Michael Conlan wanted the fight to take place at a show they had planned for Galway and on October 29.
That show fell through, after Padraig McCrory, who was scheduled to main event in an EU title fight, secured an IBO world title fight in Germany, but Rabei claims he couldn’t accept anyway.
‘Slick Vic’, who comes from a heavy Irish background having fought Karl Kelly, Jake Hanney and Mark Morris in his first seven fights, has a potential career-turning opportunity as he makes his Star Boxing debut on a ‘ Rockin’ Fights’ in Huntington. New York in just a couple of weeks.
Rabei, who camped out in Moldova for the next clash, felt he needed more of an edge in time for a fight of Reeves’ magnitude.
However, he was keen to stress that he would be open to any domestic challenges related to his weight later in the year.
“I was offered a fight with Lee Reeves on the Galway undercard. but I couldn’t have two big fights in just 3 or 4 weeks,” he tells Irish-boxing.com.
“It just doesn’t make sense! I am more than happy to fight Lee or anyone else in Ireland at any time. Just not three weeks into an eight-round fight.”
Treaty County wrestler Reeves won the NABF title last time out and looks set to take it to the next level. With no fight date confirmed, Rabei likely appealed, as he provided the opportunity to fight on home soil for the first time and do so in a fight that would have garnered more than attention.
It’s one that fans would be excited about if it were on the undercard of Michael Conlan’s return to Belfast in early December. Though if Rabei records a big win in New York on October 1, he could pave the way for an all-Irish NABF title fight in America.
It’s also encouraging to see that Conlan Boxing continues to try to make interesting domestic matches for their cards. Rumors suggest that Connemara’s Thomas O’Toole was offered the chance to feature in a domestic showdown in Galway as well.