31 January 2010 – By Cormac Campbell

Brian Magee is the new European super-middleweight champion after stopping Mads Larsen in seven one sided rounds in Denmark on Saturday.

Magee was the aggressor from the first bell and quickly learnt that he could bully, hit and hurt veteran Larsen with alarming regularity. Magee again showed the impressive body punches that secured him the British title in December 2008s contest with Scotsman Stevie McGuire and pressed Larsen for every second of every round.

The writing was on the wall in the fifth as Magee put Larsen on the floor. In the sixth Larsen went down twice but with Magee on the verge of a stoppage victory the bell interjected.

Fortunately for Magee now trained by Bernardo Checa after a long association with Harry Hawkins one minute was not long enough for 37-year-old Larsen who, truth be told, appeared to have declined considerably from his heyday. Magee picked up the pace again in the seventh, forcing the stoppage after another knockdown.

The 34-year-old Irishmans aggression was no doubt influenced by dubious decisions in previous title fights notably a British title challenge to Tony Oakey (D12) in Dublin in 2007 and a previous European challenge to Vitali Tsypko (LPTS) in Germany in 2005. However, the 2010 version of Magee (33-3-1, 23KO) unbeaten since 2006 left no margin for judicial controversy and at times appeared ruthless in pursuit of his goal.

In victory, Magee joins fellow Irishmen Paul McCloskey (an impressive studio analyst for Setanta Ireland) and Matthew Macklin as continental kingpins. The Lisburn native has also opened up a world of lucrative possibilities with money spinning title defences and even world title tilts allegedly in the offing.

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Saturdays contest was screened live by Setanta Ireland. Production-wise the show was excellent with Paul McCloskey and Steve Bunce gelling well in the studio and Neil Sinclair proving to be an informative colour commentator alongside Will Downing. One concern aired however was the difficulty in locating premises which were showing the fight in Northern Ireland. Given Setantas well publicised difficulties, many pubs north of the border have cancelled their subscriptions leading to a fight night scramble for boxing fans. Further commitment to the sport would undoubtedly remedy this, and conclusive performances such as Magees will do no harm in encouraging the money men at the Dublin based station to invest in boxing.

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Magees manager Pat Magee (no relation) entered the ring wearing the tie of the Irish Boxing Supporters Club. The pair had been apologetic for being unable to attend January 23s National Boxing Awards and the gesture was a fitting nod to fans back home. The Supporters Club tie, priced 15/E16 is available from Gary Keenan at Bogart Menswear Belfast and Newry or by contacting Cormac at editor@irish-boxing.com.

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29 January 2010 – By Steve Wellings

British featherweight champion Martin Lindsay has revealed his satisfaction at taking on mandatory challenger Jamie Arthur in a neutral location on March 19.

Although the Belfast man would have preferred to be defending his belt in front of a home crowd, the Immaculata clubman believes that his dedicated away following could make all the difference in the Leigh Sports Centre.

I would have loved to have been fighting in Belfast, Lindsay admitted, but Frank Maloney is there to look after Jamie Arthur and Im not signed with anyone at the moment, so Im just happy to be fighting at a neutral venue.

Ill prepare accordingly for whatever happens and I have big support heading over with me to Leigh so Im expecting it to be a good night. Martin has been sparring with local fighters preparing for the Ulster and Irish Senior tournaments.

My main sparring partner is European Bronze medallist Eamonn OKane who, being a middleweight, pushes me to the limit, he said.

The further my preparations go along, the more Ill pick up the sparring.

Preparing under the scrutiny of coach Gerry Nugent in his west Belfast base, Lindsay is aware of the dangers that his hungry challenger may pose but explained that Nugent is taking care of the tactics come fight night.

To be honest I havent seen much of Jamie Arthur although my coach has the tape of him against Akaash Bhatia. Ill let Gerry study it and plan how to fight him. I didnt watch that much of Paul Appleby before our fight; again, I just left it to my coach to form a game plan.

I remember Jamie from the Commonwealth games and I know Im going to be in for a tough nights work. Hes the challenger and he feels hes under performed as a professional so hell want to give his best and try to win the British title.

I have to be at my best to stop him doing that, Lindsay admitted.

Jamie Arthur has amassed a 16-2 (4KO) record since turning pro off the back of a sparkling amateur career. The Newport man thought he had snared home advantage for this bout, before the change of location, and is coming off the back of a points win over Mickey Coveney. This followed a career-best verdict over Akaash Bhatia in an eliminator for a crack at Lindsay. The champion, however, has no such plans to relinquish his hard earned prize, Ive been ticking over since Christmas and I just take these things in my stride and deal with what happens at the time. The same thing happened with the Appleby fight because I had an injury and that was postponed.

Everythings going according to plan; the weights not too bad, concluded Lindsay.

Im only about seven or eight pounds over at the moment with seven weeks to go and my fitness is flying. I cant wait.

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29 January 2010 – By Steve Wellings British featherweight champion Martin Lindsay has revealed his satisfaction at taking on mandatory challenger Jamie Arthur in a neutral location on March 19. Although the Belfast man would have preferred to be defending his belt in front of a home crowd, the Immaculata clubman believes that his dedicated away following could make all the difference in the Leigh Sports Centre. I would have loved to have been fighting in Belfast, Lindsay admitted, but Frank Maloney is there to look after Jamie Arthur and Im not signed with anyone at the moment, so Im just happy to be fighting at a neutral venue. Ill prepare accordingly for whatever happens and I have big support heading over with me to Leigh so Im expecting it to be a good night. Martin has been sparring with local fighters preparing for the Ulster and Irish Senior tournaments. My main sparring partner is European Bronze medallist Eamonn OKane who, being a middleweight, pushes me to the limit, he said. The further my preparations go along, the more Ill pick up the sparring. Preparing under the scrutiny of coach Gerry Nugent in his west Belfast base, Lindsay is aware of the dangers that his hungry challenger may pose but explained that Nugent is taking care of the tactics come fight night. To be honest I havent seen much of Jamie Arthur although my coach has the tape of him against Akaash Bhatia. Ill let Gerry study it and plan how to fight him. I didnt watch that much of Paul Appleby before our fight; again, I just left it to my coach to form a game plan. I remember Jamie from the Commonwealth games and I know Im going to be in for a tough nights work. Hes the challenger and he feels hes under performed as a professional so hell want to give his best and try to win the British title. I have to be at my best to stop him doing that, Lindsay admitted. Jamie Arthur has amassed a 16-2 (4KO) record since turning pro off the back of a sparkling amateur career. The Newport man thought he had snared home advantage for this bout, before the change of location, and is coming off the back of a points win over Mickey Coveney. This followed a career-best verdict over Akaash Bhatia in an eliminator for a crack at Lindsay. The champion, however, has no such plans to relinquish his hard earned prize, Ive been ticking over since Christmas and I just take these things in my stride and deal with what happens at the time. The same thing happened with the Appleby fight because I had an injury and that was postponed. Everythings going according to plan; the weights not too bad, concluded Lindsay. Im only about seven or eight pounds over at the moment with seven weeks to go and my fitness is flying. I cant wait.

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28 January 2010 – Press Release

Undefeated Dubliner Patrick Hyland will be looking to steal the show on the Yanjing Fight Night at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday, February 13 when he makes the first defence of his Irish Featherweight title.

The Tallaght puncher is undefeated in 18 professional fights and he will be looking to make that 19 straight wins next month when he clashes with London based Mickey Coveney.

The Irish Lightweight title clash between Cavan’s unbeaten Andy Murray and Oisin Gael Force Fagan tops the bill in Dublin with a total of 4 Irish titles up for grabs on the night.

Hyland believes he’s ready to take on the best in Europe and will aim to prove it with an impressive performance against Coveney. The 26-year-old is currently in Scotland where he has been helping Ricky Burns prepare for his upcoming WBO Super Featherweight title fight and he says he’s enjoying the experience.

It’s been great, it’s exactly the kind of calibre of sparring you need to bring you on, said Hyland. “Sparring with a guy who’s getting ready for a World title fight gives you a chance to measure where you are yourself and I’ve really enjoyed it. Patrick is one of three boxing brothers with all three reigning Irish professional champs. Eddie, the oldest of the trio is currently in Ukraine sparring reigning European Featherweight champ Oleg Yefimovych, a man very much in Patrick’s sights.

Eddie’s on a bit of a spying mission for me and I’m sure he will give me a full report on him when he gets home! Yefimovych has the European title and that’s something I definitely want to get my hands on. I’d fancy my chances against anyone in Europe right now so if that fight came along I would jump at it.

For now though Hyland’s focus is strictly on domestic business and seeing off the challenge of Coveney in what will be the first defence of the title he won back in 2008 with a stoppage of fellow Dubliner and decorated amateur, Paul Griffin.

It’s almost been two years since I won the title so it’s good to finally get to make my first defence. It’s a title I’m very proud of and I’m not going to let anyone take it off me. Coveney’s a southpaw like Paul Griffin but fighting southpaws has never bothered me. I’ve never been beaten by one and I don’t intend to start now!

They typically tend to be stand up boxers but Coveney’s more of a pressure fighter so I won’t have to go looking for him so that will suit me and should make for a good fight. Whatever happens I won’t be underestimating him, he’s been in with most of the top guys in the UK and doesn’t get any favours. I heard he was very unlucky to lose to Akash Bhatia last time out and he’s pushed guys like Paul Appleby close so I’m not taking anything for granted.

Although born and bred in London’s East End Coveney qualifies for an Irish title courtesy of his father who is originally from Cork and the 28-year-old West Ham fanatic says he is delighted to be fighting for the Irish belt. It will be a very proud moment for me and I know it will mean an awful lot to my Dad, said Coveney. It’s a big fight for me and I know Hyland has a good reputation and has a decent right hand but I don’t fear anyone.

The remaining two Irish title fights on the bill sees Coleman Barrett taking on Colin Kenna in the first Irish Heavyweight title fight for 13 years while Anthony Fitzgerald and Lee Murtagh contest the vacant Irish Super Middleweight title. Two non title fights on the bill will see featherweight prospect Willie Casey and new Belfast pro Jamie Conlan looking to extend their unbeaten records.

Tickets for the Yanjing Fight Night priced 30, 40, 50 and 60 are available from Ticketmaster (phone 0818 719 300 or visit ticketmaster.ie) and all usual outlets.

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26 January 2010 – By Cormac Campbell

Irish middleweight star John Duddy has told irish-boxing.com about his hopes of appearing on the undercard of Manny Pacquaios clash with Joshua Clottey.

New York based Derryman Duddy was speaking after an impressive first round stoppage of Juan Astorga at Madison Square Garden last Saturday. And Duddy feels, after a difficult year in 2009 which included a defeat against Billy Lyell fortune will be on his side in 2010.

I’m over the moon after Saturday night, he enthused.

I started really fast and my timing and punches were just flowing from the bell. I stunned him with a good right and I never let him recover. I finished him with a solid left hook to the body.

The mooted slot on the undercard of Pacquaio vs Clottey at Cowboys Stadium on March 13 would appear to be the perfect opportunity for Duddy to secure a World Title shot but the Derryman, 28-1 (18KO) is refusing to count his chickens before they have hatched.

The fight on the undercard of Pacquaio vs Clottey isn’t finalized, he admitted. But I hope it works out. It will one of the biggest fights this year and the event itself is supposed to be massive. It’s a new stadium and their talking of about 75,000 people to attend it.

It don’t get much bigger than that!!!

With such a carrot dangling in front of him, Duddy is wasting little time in ensuring that he will be in tip top condition.

I’m back in the gym and looking forward to whatever is coming, he said.

If all goes well, I should be in action pretty often this year.

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26 January 2010 – Press Release

European Middleweight Champion Matthew Macklin will link up with new trainer Freddie Roach in Los Angeles next week as he begins preparations for the first defence of his title.

Macklin defends his belt against the highly touted Dmitry Pirog in April and he will prepare for the unbeaten Russian at Roach’s legendary Wildcard Gym.

Roach is generally regarded as boxing’s best trainer and has been the guiding force behind Manny Pacquiao’s rise to become the best pound for pound fighter in the World. Macklin believes linking up with Roach could prove crucial as he looks to make an assault on a World title in 2010.

I spent some time training at the Wildcard at the start of my career and it’s always been on my mind to go back there at some point, said Macklin. When you see the improvements that Freddie has made with fighters like Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan it shows you just how good a trainer he is. The next few years in my career are going to be massive and to have Freddie in my corner will be a huge bonus.

It’s a huge opportunity for me because not only is it a chance to work with the most successful trainer in the world but the sparring over there is unbelievable. The Wildcard Gym is full of champions so everyday you’re testing yourself against the very best.

Roach says he’s delighted to have the opportunity to work with Macklin. I like Matt, he’s a good kid with a lot of ability and plenty of ambition, said Roach.

I’ve had some good times working with Irish fighters like Steve Collins, Bernard Dunne and Wayne McCullough in the past so hopefully I can have some success with Matt too.

The middleweight division is wide open right now so I think there could be some big fights out there for Matt. We’ve got to get past Pirog first though and that’s a tough fight so we’re just thinking about that right now.

Following an excellent 2009 that saw him win the British and European titles with a pair of sensational knockouts and an impressive win over Uruguayan Champ Rafa Sosa Pintos in Dublin Macklin is on the cusp of a World title fight with only Pirog standing in his way.

I’ve been ticking over and I’ll travel to LA next week to start working with Freddie and preparing for the Pirog fight. It’s a big fight because as well as being a mandatory defence of my European title we’re both ranked in the top ten in the World so it’s effectively a World title eliminator as well.

Macklin had been based in Manchester with trainer Joe Gallagher and admits he will be leaving Gallagher’s gym with a heavy heart having enjoyed so much success with him.

It’s bittersweet to be honest because I’m sorry to be leaving Joe but to his credit he understood that this was an opportunity I had to take. I’ve enjoyed the most successful spell of my career with him and Joe’s been a huge part of that success. He’s brought out levels of fitness in me that I didn’t even know existed and he’s always had the tactics spot on. He’s an excellent trainer and I know he’s going to go on to become one of the best trainers out there.

The move means all three of Ireland’s world class middleweights are US based with John Duddy and Andy Lee based in New York.

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25 January 2010 – By Cormac Campbell

Brian Magee has told irish-boxing.com that he cannot wait to blast off ahead of his clash with Mads Larsen.

Many insiders are tipping Magee, 33-3-1 (22KO) to leave the NRGi Arena in Aarhus, Denmark as the new European super-middleweight champion. Facing him is veteran Dane Larsen, a man, who despite an impressive record of 51-2 (38KO), is believed by many to have seen better days.

After completing his training camp at Belfasts St Agnes Boxing Club, Magee flew to Denmark on Monday to make final preparations for the contest.

Ive put in a lot of hard work and Im looking forward to it, he said.

The hard work is all done and now I am just regrouping and getting my mind right ahead of the big night. Im counting down the hours to blast off.

The bout is Magees first under the tutelage of Bernardo Checa after a lengthy association with Harry Hawkins at Holy Trinity.

It has been a good camp with a good routine. One of my old coaches Alex Doherty has come down to work with me on conditioning. It has been a good mix of the old and the new.

Hawkins, for his part, tipped his former charge to emerge victorious at Saturday nights National Boxing Awards.

I think Brian is a good bet to win, he said.

Larsen has been fairly inactive. I know Brian has as well but I think he will do it.

Magee, however is refusing to be drawn on his chances believing the contest to be very much of the pickem variety.

I hear mixed things maybe on stats I am favourite but I think it is very balanced, he conceded.

Hes been out for a year and Ive been out for a year. We both have experience. Im not taking anything for granted. At the end of the day all I can do is give it my all inside the ring and hope that those outside the ring see it in the same way. But that is something I dont have any say in so all I can do is my best.

But I am confident. The strength of Irish boxing at the moment is immense. Two European Champions (Matthew Macklin and Paul McCloskey) and until Bernard (Dunne) unfortunately got beat we had a World Champion. You do draw strength from it as it shows we can compete on the world stage.

In Magees last contest, in December 2008 he ripped Scotsman Stevie McGuire in two with powerful bodyshots claiming the British title in the process.

Body shots are just something I have in my repertoire and if an opening comes I can use them. In the McGuire fight I got the opportunity to use them and it worked. If an opportunity to do the same against Larsen comes up I will take it.

Although a number of supporters are making the trek to Denmark this weekend, news that the bout will be broadcast live on Setanta Ireland has been warmly welcomed by fans of the sport.

It is fantastic that it will be on TV, he said.

There are quite a few coming out to support me, but it is great for those that cant that it will be on Setanta.

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24 January 2010 – By Cormac Campbell

John Duddy moved closer to a World title tilt on Saturday night in New York with a first round KO of the outgunned Juan Astorga.

Derry Destroyer Duddy improved his ledger to 28-1 (18KO) on the MSG card and now looks set to return to action on March 13 on the undercard of Manny Pacquaio vs Joshua Clottey.

Astorga was out of his depth against the on form Duddy, who landed cleanly to body and head. After two knockdowns within the first two minutes the fight was waved off by referee Wayne Kelly.

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24 January 2010 – By Cormac Campbell

Bernard Dunne was named Boxer of the Year on Saturday night at the Bogart Menswear National Boxing Awards in An Culturlann, Belfast.

The Dubliner, who claimed the WBA super-bantamweight title from Ricardo Cordoba in March 2009, beat off stiff competition from European champions Matthew Macklin and Paul McCloskey.

Dunne was unable to attend due to prior commitments, leaving his coach Harry Hawkins to collect the award.

Hawkins recalled the highs of the title win as well as the subsequent defeat against Thai puncher Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym. The Holy Trinity coach also hinted that an announcement on Dunnes future will be made in the coming weeks.

22-year-old Belfast native Carl Frampton (3-0) was named Prospect of the Year. The Barry McGuigan managed, Gerry Storey trained box-puncher has already caught the eye of the boxing fraternity and looks set to make a push into title contention in the next 18 months.

The Irish Champion of the Year award was presented to super-featherweight champion Eddie Hyland (Tallaght) in recognition of recent victories over domestic rivals Kevin OHara and Oisin Fagan.

Belfasts John Breen was recognised as coach of the year after another successful year in his Lombard Street gym.

Boxing historian and author Barry Flynn gave a special presentation on the careers of boxing legends John Caldwell and John McNally inducting the duo into the Hall of Fame.

The keynote address of the awards was given by Boxing Union of Ireland President Mel Christle.

Stay tuned to irish-boxing.com for further updates and reaction from the awards.

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22 January 2010 – By Cormac Campbell

Lisburn heavyweight Scott Belshaw must seriously be considering his future after being stopped in the first round by Larry Olubamiwo in Brentford on Friday night.

Belshaw, who has lost his last three contests – albeit in good class (Tyson Furey, Audley Harrison and now Olubamiwo), sees his record drop to 10-4 (7KO).

The contest was on the undercard of Ian Napa and Jamie McDonnell’s British and Commonwealth bantamweight title fight.

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