Irish Boxing

Really looking forward to seeing Sutcliffe Jnr's progression after a good win at the weekend. He looked really solid from the video I saw of the fight. I could see him as European champ within 18 months, even if it is a very tough division in Europe at the moment. He showed good boxing skills in patches, along with the usual power punching against a tough and game Portilier and got better as the fight went on, which is a good sign in the pros.. Good variation on his shots, nice defensive moment on occasion and solid jabbing. Phil is definitely not just some brawler.

 

:yep Yep it surprised me when I watched sutcliffe boxing on the back foot on Friday. Good tactics, I think hes our best Irish based prospect and as others have already stated with the proper promoter [he already has a good manager in Pat Magee] the skys the limit.:deal

 

It's funny how things work out. When Matchroom had their show here last November they filled the card up with Magee/Red Cow/Celtic Warior fighters (McCarthy, Tims, O'Sullivan, Carroll, Keeler). Carroll and Keeler caught Eddie's eye and the rest is history. If Sutcliffe had've been on that bill who's to say he wouldn't have too (obviously he was just back from injury, he's tough to match etc and it wasn't to be).

It's unfortunate I suppose, but Sutcliffe will be a star one way or another, whether it be through steamrolling an English prospect in a fight taken at short notice and making big promoters sit up and take notice, or through the European route.

 

I agree its only a matter of when:bbb

 

ANDY Lee, Matthew Macklin and John Duddy were involved in a Mexican Standoff in which no shots were actually fired.

The Irish middleweight trio came close to trading leather on a number of occasions, but it was always felt the time wasn’t right. Paddy Fitzpatrick, however there is no reason another all Irish 160lbs fight can’t be made and would love this see his charge challenge WBO middleweight champion in a domestic dust up with World ramifications.

Derry middleweight O’Kane took a significant step toward an IBF World tilt with victory over Lewis Taylor in his home town on Saturday night, but not long after the final bell his coach Fitzpatrick was expressing an interest in a clash with Limerick’s Lee.

Lee is out until August, has been name dropped by Matthew Macklin this week and is mandated to defend against Billy Joe Saunders when fit, but Swindon based Irish trainer Fitzpatrick would love to see a Derry Limerick World title clash.



“I would really love Eamonn to fight Andy Lee,” said Fitzpatrick. “Andy is a fantastic human being and a hell of a fighter.

“He punches like a wild horse and he’s a class act as a human and so is Eamonn. So for two Irish men to fight for a world title, how long back in time do we have to go for that to have happened?

“I’d love Eamonn and Andy to have that fight. It’s not up to me to make it happen it’s up to them to want it. We definitely wouldn’t say no to it!”

With a World title fight on the horizon Taylor came to Derry as an opponent that although capable wouldn’t have been deemed a series threat to ‘King Kane’ or his World ranking.

However, the undefeated Brit didn’t read the script and pushed O’Kane all the way. Fitzpatrick is adamant his charge was a worthy winner, but did pay homage to Taylor and the effort he made.

“You always want your man to win the fight the easiest way,” added Fitzpatrick. “Eamonn’s strong point is his grit and his weak point is also his grit. He’s prepared to get into a fight way too easily.

“That wasn’t necessarily the case tonight but it’s always good to know that, when he needs to, your fighter can dig deep and pull that out.

“I wouldn’t want anyone else stood behind me if I was walking down a dark alley only him.

“I did have it close but I thought from round six or seven Eamonn was doing a lot better,” he continued.

“It was a close fight and Lewis Taylor deserves the utmost respect. I tip my hat to the man but we got the win and we move on.





lee and okane can it happen:good

 

^ Fra - dont inflict that on us willya?! Can u imagine what a cringable spectacle a fight between Andy and Eamo would be. It would have to be held in a single storey building ----> to stop paying spectators jumping to their deaths to end the misery! The hug-fest to end all hug-fests. Beam me up Scottie!!

 

The Irish team for the European Games (12th-28th June) in Azerbaijan was announced today

49kg (light-fly) – Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s Antrim)
52kg (flyweight) – Myles Casey (St Francis)
56kg (bantamweight) – Kurt Waker (Cana1)
60kg (lightweight) – Sean McComb (Holy Trinity)
64kg (light-welter) – Dean Walsh (St Josephs/St Ibars)
69kg (welterweight) – Adam Nolan (Bray)
75kg (middleweight) – Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise)
91kg (heavyweight) – Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)
91kg+ (super-heavy) – Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)

No one at light-heavy which is odd.

Top 3 in each weight qualify for World Championships in Qatar this October (5th-18th).

Further World Championships qualification opportunities in August (6th-15th) at the European Championships in Bulgaria where the top 6 in each category not already qualified will qualify.

THEN, once in Doha, qualification for the Olympics is as follows:
Top 3 in: bantamweight, lightweight, light-welter, welterweight and middleweight.
Top 2 in: light-fly, flyweights and light-heavy.
Winner in: heavyweight and super-heavy.

THEN (again) there's a further Olympic Qualifier for non-qualified European boxers in Turkey in April 2016 where the Top 3 in each weight qualify.

THEN (again, again) there's a further Olympic Qualifier for all non-qualified boxers in Azerbaijan in June 2016 where:
Top 5 in: flyweight, bantamweight, lightweight, light-welter, welterweight, middleweight, light-heavy.
Top 2 in: light-fly.
Winner in: heavyweight, super-heavy.

So three bites of the cherry in terms of Rio qualification.

**There are also 3 places per weight (apart from heavy and super-heavy where there's 1) available for the top boxers from a WSB/APB crossover qualification event in May 2016. Assuming that boxers wont be able to participate in this and the other two qualifiers in April and June. The IABA should still push to get lads into next season's WSB/APB, double the chances of getting someone to Rio.**

 

Fra could you put a link up to the site rather than just the article, we need those hits! :good

www[dot]irish-boxing[dot]com/coach-wants-eamonn-okane-andy-lee-world-title-fight/

 

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qualify?
At the risk of asking a stupid question .... how will they seperate 3rd from 4th place finishers?

 

Unconfirmed but probably will be the semi-finalist who loses to the eventual winner.

 

it could be a fite of huge irish interest... good 4 the game here:good

 

O'Kane V Spike is the fight I want to see

 

Nah- its Keeler, Quigley, even for awhile Spike -- they're the future of Irish middleweight boxing. O'Kane is VERY hard to watch. Gruesome style of boxing. Oddly enough I seem to remember him being a bit of a 'technical' boxer as an amateur. But he's lost the run of himself as a pro.

 

You must really hate Eamonn. :think

 

No love for Cummings? I'd hold off judging O'Kane for a bit, Saturday was just his 2nd fight with Fitzpatrick who is a very good trainer