Jamie Moore card tonight

Tonight Jamie Moore challenges Ciaran Healy for the Irish Light-Middleweight title in Dublin . Provided nothing goes wrong(and it really shouldn't) Moore's next bout will be for the European title against Zaurbek Baysangurov .

Also on the card is ; Paul Hyland v Marc Callaghan for the vacant Irish Super-Bantamweight title . Paul is often considered the best of the Hyland brothers and considering the other two recently won Irish titles with impressive wins(Eddie over Kevin O'Hara and Patrick over Paul Griffin) Paul is under pressure to emulate their success .

Callaghan is vastly experienced and has wins over Ian Napa(conroversial) and Andrew Ferrans, aswell as a draw with Michael Hunter . It's the biggest test of Paul's career to date but he should come through .

Kiko Martinez makes his return since losing to Rendall Munroe for the European title, he takes on Lante Addy who recently lost a Commonwealth title challenge down at Bantamweight to Jason Booth .
Martinez should have too much power for the game Addy and provided he is succesful Martinez will go on to rematch Munroe for the European title and should he win he is hoping to get another chance to destroy Dunne in Ireland again .

Patrick Hyland, Paul's older brother who as I mentioned recently beat Paul Griffin for the irish featherweight title takes on Geoffrey Munika . Munika drew with Colchester's undefeated prospect Lee Purdy just over a week ago . Munika has a positive record going in (16-10-1) and has only been stopped twice in good company, going the distance with Somsak Sithchatchawal, Justin Juuko, Spend Abazi and Matt Zegan .
He should be a stern test for Hyland who may have ideas about pushing on towards European title level .

Gary Spike O'Sullivan has been making waves with his serious power, winning all of his first 3 fights inside the distance . He takes on a man with a very poor losing record Eugen Stan(4-38-1) but Stan has never been stopped despite being in there with some pretty decent fighters . Stopping Stan would indicate that O'Sullivan's power really is genuine .

John O'Brien takes on the unknwon Anghel Florin at Cruiserweight , Florinin only has 1 fight and that was a first round ko so who knows what to expect . O'Brien often isn't in the best of shape but is good to watch and will make it exciting .

To complete the card Michael Sweeney gets a very soft touch with a journeyman, also at Cruiserweight .

This card has some historic significance to it, it will be the first time that TV 3(Ireland's second national broadcaster) shows a boxing card and it will be the start of regular boxing on the channel .

There should be plenty of action on the card and even a mismatch like Healy and Moore should provide excitement while it lasts .

predictions:
Moore TKO Healy 3
Paul Hyland PTS Callaghan
Martinez KO 4 Addy
Patrick Hyland PTS Munika
O'Sullivan PTS Stan
O'Brien ko Florin(total guess)
Sweeney TKO Catalin

Coverage starts at 21:15 but unfortunately I don't think there is a stream so those of you accross the water will miss out .

 

O'Hara is a better fighter than Callaghan and Griffin is too so both the brothers have faced stiffer test . This is the hardest fight yet for Paul(still a 10 fight novice) and he's only 23 so he's not doing too bad . .

Correct Hunter did stop Callaghan who was a mile behind.............in their second fight , the first one was a draw .

 

I didn't call Griffin a stiff test, just a stiffer one that Callaghan . He's technically a better boxer than Marc and hits harder too but he was never that durable and still isn't . I think Griffin v Callaghan would be a close fight nowdays .

The first Hunter v Callaghan fight is from some time back now(2002) .
The Hylands have been matched easily enough in the past but this is gradually changing and they are all starting to be stepped up .
Paul is only 23, Patrick 24 and Eddie is 27 so while they've been moved slowly they're not at Audley Harrison's pace .

It seems Patrick even though he's low down the bill has been matched with an okay opponent so things are progressing . Paul was originally meant to fight fellow prospect Stuart McFadyen for the irish title on the bill but he pulled out and Callaghan stepped in .

 

It'll be on RTÉ and it will be shown online, Gibbs should be a big test for Lee(a bigger one than Vera was) and it will be very interesting to see how he comes back . I think Lee was unlucky to be stopped by Vera, the timing especially was atrocious, but he fought a stupid fight and kind of got what he deserved .

Gibbs style will suit Lee more but if he hasn't learned how to either tie up better or fight on the inside a lot better then he'll get found out again, whether it's against Gibbs or the fight or two after . He needs an inside game and quick if they're gonna keep pushing him forward at this rate .