PADDY Fitzpatrick is hoping that Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn will be keen to add a potential British cruiserweight title final eliminator fight to the Ryan Burnett card in October.

The Ferndale Road-based trainer is hoping that a clash between his man Luke Watkins and Tommy McCarthy will come to fruition this autumn, with interest in the bout growing on social media.

With both men highly ranked in the British cruiserweight standings, Fitzpatrick has already spoken with Hearn about staging the fight in Belfast.

“I spoke with Eddie Hearn last week - before he announced the Ryan Burnett fight,” Fitzpatrick said. “I asked him if he was interested in putting it on his next Belfast show.

“He replied ‘Yes, I’m happy to look at that, speak to Pat Magee (McCarthy’s manager) and we will take it from there.’ “I’d already been in talks with Pat about the fight and spoke to him again and he is up for it too.

“I’ve let Eddie know this, so hopefully we can get it done.

“Both men are highly ranked by BoxRec(.com) and they are both good fighters.

“Obviously I think Duke will win the fight and they are thinking that Tommy McCarthy will win it.

“Lots of people seem interested in it - both fans and people in boxing - so I just hope we can get it done Watkins’ last appearance in the ring was when he stopped Ian Tims in four rounds to claim the Irish title on the undercard of Burnett winning the IBF bantamweight world title.

And following on from Fitzpatrick’s efforts to get the fight arranged, the 27-year-old former New College student has also expressed his desire to cross the Irish Sea again.

Watkins tweeted: “I want to be fighting in Ireland, maybe @EddieHearn will get me on this (Burnett) show. Who should I be fighting??? #CruiserweightIrishChamp”