West Belfast boxer Pádraig McCrory is gearing up for a massive year in 2019 - and a new addition to his family.
McCrory returns to the ring on March 29 on the undercard of the eagerly anticipated Conrad Cummings vs Luke Keeler rematch at the Ulster Hall.
It will be the super-middleweight's seventh outing as a professional, with the 30-year-old's record standing at an impressive 6-0 with three knockouts.
McCrory is hoping to stay busy in 2019, and is targeting a slot on Michael Conlan's potential summer show at Falls Park in August.
Belfast boxer Padraig McCrory dedicates latest win to Caoilte Fitzsimons
And the month after that, McCrory and his wife Natasha will welcome their second child into the world.
"We can confirm that Natasha is expecting our second child, and we are over the moon," a beaming McCrory told Belfast Live Sport.
"We already have a 14-month-old boy, Fiachra, and he has changed our lives so much, all for the better.
"So we can't wait for Fiachra to have a little brother or sister later this year. We don't know if it is a boy or a girl, we will keep that a surprise for the birth."
McCrory added: "People joke that I'll have time for nothing after a second child arrives, but a lot of what I do is for my family. They are added motivation for me.
"When the times get tough, I just have to think about them and it drives me on."
While the year ahead promises so much for McCrory, the heavy-handed super-middleweight insists he is not looking any further than next Friday's Ulster Hall bill.
He will take on Polish fighter Przemyslaw Binienda in his first step up to six rounds.
"I can't wait. I have never fought at the Ulster Hall, as an amateur or professional," he added.
"The Ulster championships were moved to the Europa and Dockers club when I was fighting in the amateurs, so I missed out.
"Thankfully I will tick off the dream of fighting there next week. Any local boxer wants to fight once at the Ulster Hall because it is such an iconic venue.
"I remember watching big Rogie (Martin Rogan) and boys like Dee McComb fight there. The atmosphere is class.
"This will also be my first six-rounder, so I will be able to fight for a BUI title after this."
McCrory added: "Hopefully I am kept busy this year. There is talk of a bill being held in Belfast this May, and then there is all the talk about Michael Conlan's Falls Park show.
"I was brought up in St James' which is a stone's throw away from Falls Park. So to fight there would be another dream.
"But that will only happen if I keep winning, and that's what I have to do next Friday night."
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