Irish Boxing

Fra,

Thanks for the kind words - they're very encouraging. On a lighter note, how I came into contact with Tommy Egan was hearing about this 62-year old fella laying the smack down on a 27-year old stockbroker on a white-collar show.

Egan boxed heavily when he was a young lad, until he went off to sea. He got back in the ring after 46 years for the White Collar show and put his opponent down in the second round on his way to victory.

He's an encyclopedia on old-school boxing. Marciano this, Willie Pep that, Fritzie Zivic, Carlos Palomino, Salvador Sanchez, and on and on...he's an addict.

Call me naive, but a fella with a genuine love of the game is another good sign of things to come. I don't think fighters will ever get shafted because he has been in that ring himself.

That's just my opinion, now mind, it remains to be seen.

 

Podge, is Egan any relation to big Joe or Ken Egan, just joking, good luck to the aul boy.:good

 

Nothing to Big Joe, but a second cousin (I think its second anyway) of Ken Egan. He has good connections throughout, fair play to him.

 

Ken could be his first big signing after the Olympics.

 

All good news and i hear Andy Lee is back in Limerick in July aswell we will be spoilt rotten.Peters has shown that the crowd will attend provincial shows and now Tommy Egan has taken this to heart so the game will grow and grow.It will be great to have local heros fighting in their home towns."This a local show for local people"

 

Thanks for the info Podge, great to get all the latest and delighted to hear about Moore headlining in Ireland but let's be honest the Healy match is a dreadful one. I realise it's probably a bit too much to hope for a Moore and Macklin rematch but Jamie will blow Healy away in a round or two. I watched him on rte recently losing to a guy who had 3 fights and lost all 3!!

This has all the makings of another John Duddy V Prince Aron and will be a dreadful start for TV3 in boxing. Surely they can drop the idea of the Healy fight and get in a decent European and American opponent that will give Moore a fight. What about getting Campas back to Dublin?

Any word on the undercard fights? I missed the Stadium show recently but heard the Hyland and O'Hara fight was a thriller. Is that going to be on the show?

 

NIce to hear someone mention big joe...I met him in Vegas at the after party for Calzaghe / Hopkins. As soon as he heard the accent he looked after us...a nicer man you couldn't meet. He even dragged Tony Tucker over and took a picture of me and the former champ, which made my night. A class act all around.

 

Yeah, Ive met him before myself, hes a character.Did you enjoy Vegas

 

Vegas was fantastic, I stayed there for 8 days. Managed to meet loads of boxing people like Joe, Enzo Calzaghe, Tony Tucker, Shannon Brigss (who was a hell fo a laugh!), David Haye, Manny Steward...more that I can't even remember!

Apart from the boxing Vegas is a great spot..i'll definately be back but it'll probably be on another fight weekend!

 

if you dont mind me asking...did it cost a lot to go ??

 

Don't mind at all...it was £1400 for flights from Heathrow and 7 nights at the MGM grand for 2 people. Add in £200 each for a ticket and you're there. I spent about $1600 while there but I did a lot in terms of going to a show and seeing the hoover dam and the grand canyon. Also I had a bit of gambling losses in there! So you don't have to spend that much...is well worth it though.

 

Boxingdvds,

I don't think anyone will argue the fact that Moore-Healy is not ideal. But the fact is that Ciaran Healy is the Irish light-middle champ, Moore wants that title, and the Irish title has serious clout for opening doors in the States.

Also, the fight is an in-betweener for his European title shot. It's a tune-up as such. That has to be taken into account. If he gets known in Ireland through winning the Irish title, there could some day soon be a big Euro (or even world, depends on how far his ability takes him) title defence here in the country, which would be great for us fans.

Tommy Egan is putting together a very good undercard, by all accounts. If anyone is watching Setanta tomorrow for Shamrock Rovers v St Pats, watch out for the Hyland brothers parading their belts at half-time. Egan organised it to get the lads exposure to fans.

As I understand it, its a given that Jamie Moore will top the bill on July 12, with Martin Rogan, Gary O'Sullivan, the Hylands and more all appearing. I think the feeling is that a very strong Irish presence on the undercard with quality fights will grab the interest as much as Moore. And it will be Irish v Irish for titles. Hyland-O'Hara rematch is in negotiation, I don't know if it will happen or not. But I do know there will be at least three Irish titles on the line.

 

As much as Moore/Healy is a bit of a mis-match, Egan cant be critised to much for the match, as Peters was happy enough to throw Healy in with Lee at the higher weight division of middle. Healy lasted several rounds that night. I didnt know Rogan was fighting on the 12th, he has made a name of himsel of late with the Prizefighter performance.

 

Ardy lad...have another pint and settle down....Lee takin' the title from Pavlik...don't get to fussin' now... not even in your luckless alcohol soaked alternate universe....easy now fella....can somebody please call a car...many thanks.