Does that mean he'll be working exclusively in the Republic or can the BUI sanction fights in the North ?
National Intermediate Boxing - Day 1 round-up Saturday, 21 November 2009 11:57 The St Francis club in Limerick celebrated a double on Friday as the National Intermediate Boxing Championships got underway at the National Stadium in Dublin. Connor Kelleher, who beat fellow Limerick welterweight Stephen Sexton, and Shaun Kelly both emerged victorious. Jamie Kennedy, Patrick Walsh and Paul Hyland also won, Hyland progressing on a first frame stoppage versus Ian Donovan. Paul Hyland, Kelleher, Daniel Foster, Thomas Roohan, Michael Frayne and Peter Lee secured inside the distance wins. Meanwhile, Sean McHale and Phelim Halligan were separated by the first count-back of the tournament, the Ballincarrow cruiserweight getting the nod on a one point margin. The John McDonagh versus Brandon Cregan clash was also decided by a one point margin, with Cregan of the St Joseph's club in Derry, advancing. The tournament will be ran over the next four weekends with the finals penciled in for Friday, 11 December.
It sounds like a good night Hughes The Victim As Acosta Claims Belfast Stoppage Submitted by Steve Wellings on 21 November, 2009 - 13:38 This content is protected Alan and Jane Wiltons show at the Holiday Inn on Friday 20th November was well received by a healthy crowd and contained an eclectic mix of talent from local areas and further afield. A link-up with Cork manager/promoter Gary Hyde provided a Latino feel to the main event as 24-year-old hot prospect Alexei Acosta headlined this card. After two prospective title fights fell through, the aforementioned Cuban bantamweight Acosta was left with Pontefracts Sean Hughes over eight rounds and, on paper, a stern test of his growing credentials. The stoppage, which came at 1.33 of the second round, was possibly on the early side given Hughes championship experience - not that Acosta (8st 9llb), or manager Gary Hyde, were complaining too much. Hes going to relax now until after Christmas, said Hyde, whilst simultaneously translating Acostas Spanish, and yes I thought it was a fair stoppage, no problems there. Acosta had been sparring Bernard Dunne in the lead-up to Dunnes world title defence and is now based full-time in Belfasts Kronk gym under Tony Dunlop. This content is protected This content is protected The Cuban, who improves to 9-0 (9 KOs), had looked smooth in the early running, backing Hughes up and punching in combinations of 8-10 punches at a time. Not all landed of course but you could see the raw talent was evident, even if Alexei was, at times, wilder than I had expected. This was not discounting Hughes contribution, as the slick southpaw had some success of his own, turning Acosta with his corkscrew jab and slipping off the ropes at times to avoid the artillery. By the second round Acosta was starting to unload and Hughes (8st 10llb) dangerously lay covered up to withstand the barrage, which was a worrying sign as referee David Irving (who took charge of all six contests) does have a habit of jumping in when he sees a fighter pinned to the ropes. Not all of the Havana mans blows were registering but some did sneak through and Seans head snapped back, prompting Irving to dive-in after a final flurry. Hughes trainer Michael Marsden entered the ring, towel in hand, remonstrating with the official, who remained unaffected. The kid [Hughes] was fine, said Marsden on the way out of the ring, he was taking them on the gloves no bother; he has loads of experience of this sort of thing. A dejected Hughes has hinted he may now hang up the gloves after this setback and also added that Jason Booth would beat Acosta if the two were ever to meet. Hyde meanwhile was beaming from ear to ear: Im taking all three Cubans to America for fights on the East and West Coast next February, he added. Remember theyre still Cork boys though and well fight there too very soon. This content is protected This content is protected Prior to the main event there was a ringing of the ten-bells in memory of popular Belfast referee Barney Wilson who had passed away the previous morning, aged 67, after a battle with illness. The silence was impeccably recognised for the no-nonsense official who oversaw the likes of Barry McGuigan and Dave Boy McAuley during a lengthy ring career that also saw him box successfully as an amateur, and later professionally. In chief support, popular local Luke Wilton recorded a first round stoppage over Muharem Osmanov but was feeling a little short-changed by his opponents lack of resilience. I was a little annoyed by the ending because I wanted more action for the fans, said a pensive Luke post-fight. Indeed, Osmanov didnt appear to be a fighter of great substance when he entered the ring and so it proved, going down meekly from body shots just 40 seconds into the opener. Dressed in long white trunks and navy blue socks, pulled up to the knees, Osmanov (7st 11llb) resembled a youngster who had forgotten his P.E. kit and had been forced to rummage through the lost property box. This content is protected Wilton (8st 1llb) made it his business to hammer the torso with his left hook and the visitor, now 1-3, found himself down on the floor and counted out. After a win in the Odyssey Arena recently, Luke is still on track for a British title shot and if he keeps winning, stiffer tests than Latvias Osmanov are certainly waiting around the corner. This content is protected Back In June, debutants Michael Devine and Michael Harvey had put it all on the line before Harvey was stopped in the third round of a brawl, in Lutons Liquid Envy nightclub. They met in a 4x3s super-featherweight rematch here and winless Harvey was once again left crushed after Devine stopped him at 0.58 of the second stanza. Its hard not to feel for the likeable 24-year-old who drew great support and was inconsolable at the final bell, receiving oxygen after some heavy falls. In the first round Harvey had used a solid jab and taken advantage of his height and reach advantages. Devine rushed in and gave plenty back, interestingly finding a home for the right hand through Harveys upright stance. That was the punch that did all the damage in the second, but not before Devine had taken a deserved rest following a low blow. The straight hand landed flush shortly after and Harvey fell heavily, eyes in orbit, struggling on to jelly legs before taking the count on one knee in accordance with corner man Alan Wiltons advice. Shaken and with a bloody nose, Harvey tried to fight fire with fire and was soon deposited to the canvas for a second time from a carbon copy right hand. Referee Irving stopped it immediately as Harvey, close to tears, walked back to his stool. Im really disappointed that I couldnt win for all these fans, I really wanted to do it, he explained bravely, later in the evening. He agreed that he had maybe let his left hand drop too low and paid tribute to the now 2-0 Michael Devine. Both (pictured below) weighed in at 9st 8llb. Looking impressive on his first professional bow, JJ McDonagh pounded Latvias Jevgenis Kiselevs to the canvas twice in the opening round before the away man was stopped at 1.56. Southpaw McDonagh (12st 6llb) used a spiteful left hook and spearing jab to measure his foe, before putting together his punches with intent. Kiselevs (12st) was way out his depth and sunk to the canvas, dejected and wanting no more. He rose and briefly gave it a go before returning to his haunches and declining David Irvings invitation to continue. On this night, JJ looked the better of the two McDonaghs and could be one to watch. Local hope Niall Diamond (from Ballymena) and Lutons Gavin Putney were both making their debuts and from as early as the second round it was a case of two tired men swinging wildly for an explosive finish. Putney (10st 12llb) had Diamond (10st 11llb) in trouble in the first round with Nialls habit of dropping the hands and lying on the ropes proving to be his undoing. Fatigued, cut over the left eye and with a bleeding nostril, Diamond landed a good left hook that suddenly had Putney sagging in the neutral corner, only for Gavin to come roaring back to such an extent that ref David Irving appeared to be hovering. Putney received a harsh slap across the face from trainer Graham Earl between rounds, with the former lightweight urging his man to give yourself room, suck it up and work. This was a pure slugfest with no sweet science involved yet it kept the crowd entertained, offering the alluring question of who would implode first. It turned out to be Diamond (below), who, with hands held low, crumpled to the canvas from a mix of Putneys hooks and pure exhaustion. Mr. Irving rightly called a halt at 2.30 of the fourth round. Debutant Paddy McDonagh opened proceedings with a 39-37 points win over rugged Bulgarian Grigor Sarohanian. Cuts man Mick Williamson worked all home corners on the night but was rarely called into action, although Sarohanian (12st 8llb) was quite liberal with the head at times, while giving a good account of himself in the opening round. Southpaw McDonagh (12st 11llb), from Mullingar in the Republic of Ireland, was strong and game, forcing his 1-0 opponent back with a steady jab. Grigor was again warned for use of the head in the third and as McDonagh began to work him over, the podgy visitor looked for respite in the corner. Pushing hard for a stoppage in the final session, Paddy landed some meaty straight lefts as Sarohanian covered his reddened torso. A double right hook followed by some rabbit punching threatened to end the night for the plucky Sofia native, but he held on with dignity intact. McDonagh (below) lacked technical refinement, which was understandable given his novice status, and could possibly slim down a little in weight. This content is protected This content is protected
What's the story with Mc'Crory and the Cubans? Is he out of the picture now? What happened there? etc..
irving quit because he can not get referee A status of bbbof c he has been trying for years,so i guess he thinks he can step over tiedt to be the top ref in the 32,good luck with that.:verysad
Holiday Inn, Ormeau Ave, Belfast, 20th November 2009. I'd like to say thanks to all that attended, especially those that traveled up from Dublin and Cork to watch the fights. A big thank you to all the boxers for making the show possible and I know many of them only got a few days notice due to sickness etc. Graham Earl and James Paisley (yeah yeah I know 3-0) thank you for working with us for this show and getting your boxers in great shape to fight (and win). A big big thank you to Gary Hyde and No Where To Hyde Promotions, they have worked closely with us over the last few months to organise this show. Acosta provided great sparring for some of the guys in the Team Alio stable. Hopefully Belfast Promotions/Team Alio will be able to work with Gary Hyde again and maybe get a few more Irish/Cuban boxers up to bouts in Belfast.
To be fair to Irving I've always thought him a good referee but a shite judge. Same goes for Tiedt though. In fact even the judging at the amateurs is poxy. But i don't like referees scoring fights at all
Bernard Du nne has won a world championship against a quailty fighter and went to the depts to do it. you have to respect that. And to be honest the upsurge in Irish boxing in recent years is due to him. He provided the shows were loads of Irish fighters could show case their talents and get a fan base of their own!!!! He achieved things crowd and tv wise that no other irish fighter will. He is also a great ambasador to the sport!!! And more people underate him than over rate him.
off the subject lads- and im sure its not going to happen but heres poonsawats response to Dunne saying he wanted a rematch....great to hear the show went well last night!! Jonny Stapleton The man who dethroned former World Champion Bernard Dunne, Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym claims he would be happy to give the Irish superstar a rematch any time any where. Speaking publicly about his boxing future for the first time this week Neilstown native, Dunne, dismissed retirement rumours and instead expressed a desire to avenge the defeat suffered at the powerful hands of the Thai. Poonsawat and his manager Terry Laosuwanwat both instantly stated they would have no problem in granting the Dubliner his wish. Laosuwanwat even claimed they would be willing to put the belt on the line in Dublin whenever Dunne is ready. Any rematch would be subject to Poonsawat surviving his first defense in Japan on January 11 against Satoshi Hosono but such a response would be music to Dunne ears. The match up however would have to be ratified by Dunne’s manager Brian Peters and his trainer Harry Hawkins. The fact Peters previously dismissed a repeat bout and Dunne admitted he will discuss what weight his fighting career should continue at with Hawkins suggests- Dunne Poonsawat two is certainly not straight forward. But for the ‘Little Tank’ Poonsawat it’s simple. If Dunne wants a rematch he can have it. “I am happy to hear Bernard Dunne will continue to fight. I have a lot of respect for him. If he wants a rematch I am open to it but that is a decision I have to make with my team,” the pint sized Thai claimed. “If Dunne wants to rematch we would be willing to fight. Poonsawat would fight Dunne whenever Dunne is ready. We are happy to have the fight in Thailand or Ireland if Peters give us the suitable offer. Personally, I am still curious to see if that was the real Dunne fought Poonsawat. I am not sure he was in the best condition. The Dunne that lost to Poonsawat was not the Dunne that beat Cordoba. I think Dunne proved himself a world class fighter against Cordoba. I think Poonsawat would beat him again but it could be closer,” Laosuwanwat said from the WBA Convention Colombia.