Padraig McCrory hand injury no April Fool's joke as 'Hammer' vents frustration

Padraig McCrory wishes images of him standing with his right hand in a cast was some sort of April Fool's joke.

The unbeaten Belfast super-middleweight revealed the injury on Friday after breaking his thumb sparring with Tommy McCarthy.

McCrory was helping McCarthy prepare for his upcoming rematch with Chris Billam-Smith when he suffered the fracture.

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Cruelly he sustained it with the last punch of the spar which took place on Thursday.

The 33-year-old had been plotting his own return against a high-profile opponent in the coming weeks, in a fight that could have paved the way to a world title shot later this year.

But now those plans have been put on hold.

"I was sparring Tommy and helping him out with his fight in two weeks' time," McCrory told Belfast Live.

"It came in the very last round and was the very last punch. I threw an overhand right, and at first I thought it was staved but then I quickly realised it was worse than that.

"I didn't think it would be broken but that's what the hospital said.

"So I now have a broken thumb on my right hand which is hugely frustrating.

"I had agreed to fight an opponent, and it was a big fight. A date and venue hadn't been finalised but it was going to happen. It was an ex-World title challenger, and it would have been for a decent ranking belt.

"The cast will be on for six weeks. They will look at it in four weeks for me to see where we're at. But worst case six weeks.

"I will try and keep fit in the meantime, and when the cast comes off I will be ready to go again in three to four weeks."

McCrory - who saw a huge fight with former world champion David Lemieux fall through last year - hopes to return "around May or