29 June 2010 – By Cormac Campbell

Irish super-middleweight champion Anthony Fitzgerald wants a clash with middleweight title holder Gary OSullivan.

If Gary thinks he can hold onto that belt without defending it he has another thing coming, Fitzgerald said.

I’ll fight him in Cork, Belfast or Dublin, name the place I know I am the best middleweight in the country.

A potential sticking point could be weight. O’Sullivan, despite being the Irish middleweight champion has stated in the past that he sees his long term future at light-middle, however a spokesman for Fitzgeralds promoter Dolphil said the fight can be made.

This is exactly what the middleweight division needs in this country, here you have two top middleweights who are not afraid of each other – the fight makes sense so well make it happen.

Dolphils philosophy is simple – bring the best boxers in Ireland to fight fans, and that is what we will continue to do.

Fitzgerald will feature on Dolphils August 7 card in Dubins Citywest. Tickets online at www.ticketgroup.ie.

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29 June 2010 – By Cormac Campbell

Irish light-heavyweight champion John Waldron has said he is not avoiding Mayos Michael Sweeney.

Sweeney had claimed last week that he felt frozen out of the domestic title mix but Waldron has reassured him that a clash is a priority.

I am the light-heavyweight champion, he said.

I have never avoided anyone in a fight amateur or professional and I am definitely not avoiding Michael Sweeney. I am the number one rated light heavyweight in Ireland and when this fight comes off I will still be the number one. Ill do my talking in the ring where it counts.

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29 June 2010 – By Cormac Campbell

Belfasts Luke Wilton will get the chance to avenge defeat at the hands of Usman Ahmed, having been matched with the 28-year-old Derby native on this Fridays Sky Live card in Doncaster.

Wilton, who is tracking down a British title clash was defeated by Ahmed at Dublin City University in December 2008 but has been keen on a rematch ever since.

Ahmed, who sports a record of 6-3-1 has come up short against quality operators Chris Edwards (twice) and Ashley Sexton.

Victory for Witon, 7-3-1 (3KO) could secure a domestic title tilt.

Meanwhile, former Irish heavyweight champion and Mike Tyson conqueror Kevin McBride, 34-6-1 (29KO) returns to action for the first time since 2007 against Robert Hawkins on July 10 in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Clones skyscraper McBrides return spices up the domestic heavyweight scene with former Commonwealth kingpin Martin Rogan also set to return in the autumn.

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27 June 2010

John Duddys dream of securing a World middleweight title fight has come to a crushing halt after the Derryman dropped a unanimous points decision to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in Texas on Saturday night.

Mexican Chavez, now 41-0-1-1 (30KO), was value for the 120-108, 116-112, 117-111 victory having outworked Duddy, 29-2 (18KO), on the inside and outboxed him on the outside. In picking up the WBC Silver trinket, Chavez managed to hurt Duddy on a number of occasions throughout the contest and indeed looked capable of inflicting a stoppage defeat on the New York based Irishman.

Duddy was resilient and brave, fighting back every time his back was against the wall, but kudos over toughness is scant consolation for a man whose aspirations of world title glory now look set to remain just that.

This was Chavez Jrs night to shine and he stepped up to the mark in some fashion.

Whether he has been improved considerably by the tutelage of Freddie Roach or was always capable of raising his game against stronger opposition, Chavez looked an improved fighter against Duddy dismissing many of the questions raised about his ability following previous performances.

Team Duddy will now have to sit down and chart the best route forward for their fighter – a return home to press for British and European honours may well prove to be the most lucrative option.

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26 June 2010 – By Cormac Campbell

Irish based fighters scored a clean sweep at Brian Peters Promotions’ ‘Undefeated’ bill at Neptune Stadium in Cork on Saturday, July 26.

Cavan lightweight Andy Murray extended his record to 21-0 (12KO) with a third round stoppage of Laszlo Robert Balogh, 7-3-1 (2KO).

Super-bantamweight Alexi Acosta, made short work of late sub Daniel Enache to score a first round stoppage – thus improving his ledger to 11-0 (11KO). Romanian journeyman Enache, 0-9-0, had stepped into the hole left by Jose Saez, 17-10-4 (8KO).

Prizefighter super-bantamweight champion Willie Casey, 9-0 (6KO), scored a sixth round victory over Faycal Messaoudene, 4-16-1.

Super-middleweight Luis Garcia 8-0 (6KO) stopped Demetrius Davis, 20-22-5 (8KO) in the third round.

Home favourite Gary O’Sullivan, 11-0 (7KO) returned to action for the first time since winning the Irish middleweight title last year with a fourth round stoppage of Sylvain Touzet, 9-22 (3KO).

Heavyweight Mike Perez, 11-0 (9KO) rounded off the clean sweep with a first round victory over Jason Barnett, 12-11 (6KO).

Stay tuned to irish-boxing.com for fight report on Sunday.

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26 June 2010 – By Cormac Campbell

Boxrec.com states that LA based Irish prospect Jamie Kavanagh will have his third professional fight at the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles on July 22.

The Freddie Roach trained ‘Nuisance’ was in action last week, recording the second victory of his fledgling career, with a four round points victory over Luis Sanchez.

Kavanagh is already in the mix for the Prospect of the Year award at January 2011′s National Boxing Awards.

Stay tuned to irish-boxing.com for updates.

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25 June 2010 – By Jonny Stapleton

Dubliner Jamie Kavanagh defeated Mexican opposition in Los Angeles on Thursday and predicted John Duddy can do the same on Saturday night.

The Golden Boy promoted Nuisance recorded a unanimous points decision over Luis Sanchez in just his second pro outing on the Fight Night Club show in the Club Nokia venue.

And the 2008 World Junior Championship silver medallist is backing the Derry Destroyer to register a similar outcome in his WBC world title eliminator against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr on Saturday night.

Duddys opponent,Chavez has recently become Kavanaghs Wild Card stablemate and the former Crumlin amateur has the inside track on the undefeated Mexican.

However, despite witnessing a marked Chavez improvement since he teamed up with Freddie Roach, Kavanagh is predicting a Duddy win.

I think if Chavez keeps to his boxing he will cause a few problems for Duddy. However come Saturday I am sure I will be sitting down to watch my fellow Irishman take the win. I hope Duddy does it and to be honest I think he will, Kavangh told the Irish Mirror.

I have seen Chavez at the start of his training camp for this fight and I seen him at the end and he looks a lot sharper than when he came in first. Freddie Roach has done a great job with him. Knowing Freddie I am sure he has a great plan for the Duddy fight. I know personally those gameplans can be great but my money is still on Duddy to come away with the victory.

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24 June 2010 – Press Release

This Saturday’s Yanjing Beer Fight Night at The Neptune Stadium in Cork will kick off with a series of exciting amateur bouts before the professional side of the bill which features The Undefeated’s.

Cork based Cuban trio, Mike The Rebel Perez, Luis The Lion Garcia and Alexei The Hurricane Acosta will join Ireland’s Andy Murray, Willie Big Bang Casey and Gary Spike O’Sullivan in the pro bouts with all six facing international opposition while there will also be six amateur contests showcasing some of Cork’s brightest emerging talent.

Headlining the amateur portion of the card will be an intriguing Senior 75Kg bout between Cork’s Rory O’Donoghue and Dublin’s Luke Keeler while Leesider’s Shane Hickey, Trevor Olden, Alex Gahan and Martin Maguire will also be in action amongst others.

The first of amateur bouts will start at 6pm on Saturday night with the professional bouts expected to start from 8pm.

Tickets for the Yanjing Beer Fight Night priced E25 and E50 are available from Ticketmaster, all Mahers Sports Outlets, Neptune Stadum 021 4395873, The Wilton Pub 021 4344454, Patrick Thomas 087 9393586, Gary O’Sullivan 085 1789544 and Willie Casey 086 3136925.

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24 June 2010 – By Steve Wellings

Brian Peters Promotions move to Cork on Saturday June 26 for the next Yanjing Fight Night, with an eclectic mix of talent sharing a six-fight card at the Neptune Sports Arena. The show will contain a French connection with two journeymen travelling over the water to provide opposition for a couple of local prospects featuring in six-rounders.

Winner of the Prizefighter super-bantamweight tournament Willie Casey is looking to capitilise on his new found fame when the Limerick man meets Faycal Messaoudene over six-threes. The away fighter boasts only four wins to his credit and has lost six of his last seven, including a fifth-round KO to Scott Quigg which is the only stoppage loss from fifteen defeats.

“I know I still have a lot to learn in the pro ranks but I’m willing to fight anyone,” said Casey. The bigger the name and the bigger the reputation the bigger the challenge for me and I’m in this game to see how far I can go.”

Casey would do well to halt his rugged opponent and a points win is the likely outcome.

Unbeaten Cork light-middleweight Gary O’Sullivan has found ring time hard to come by recently and will be making his first outing of 2010, against Sylvain Touzet. Gary holds the Irish title at middleweight but told irish-boxing.com earlier this year that he prefers to campaign at the more natural 11-stone limit.

Touted as a puncher in his early career, “Spike” travelled the ten-round distance against Ciaran Healy to claim the national belt last December and could find himself frustrated by the grizzled 37-year-old Touzet who has mixed in good company throughout an eight-year career. O’Sullivan should win on points regardless.

Lightweight Andy Murray has been kept busy recently and the Cavan man will be looking to follow on from an impressive win over Jon Baguley in Belfast when he faces Laszlo Balogh of Hungary. Balogh’s record is statistically more pleasing than the aforementioned away men, as he sports a 7-2-1 slate and the 21-year-old should bring some youthful enthusiasm to the Neptune Arena.

More telling is the fact he has been stopped in his both of his losses, including last time out in five rounds by John O’Donnell. Murray is unconcerned, continuing to focus on a European title crack at namesake John.

“I feel I’m ready for a European title shot now but I realise I might have to be patient so it’s great to be as busy as I am right now,” said Andy.

“For any pro I think that fighting regularly is the key to improving and progressing up the ranks. It keeps you in routine and it keeps you focused because you know once you have one fight out of the way there is another coming up just around the corner so it keeps you sharp,” he added.

Murray is maturing into a class act and can halt Balogh by the middle stages of this scheduled eight-rounder.

No Cork bill would be complete without an appearance from at least one of the three Cubans and this bill will feature every member of the trio, all in action against solid levels of opposition over eight rounds.

Super-bantamweight Alexei Acosta gets a tasty assignment against Jose Saez, heavyweight Mike Perez tackles reasonable American Jason Barnett and Luis Garcia meets fellow super-middleweight Demetrius Davis.

Acosta has removed all ten of his professional opponents thus far and will be looking for an eleventh win, over Argentine Saez who contested eight rounds with Steve Molitor in his last-but-one outing. He can hold his own in good company but usually gets stopped. Alexei can join the group by removing Saez in the early rounds.

Florida-based heavyweight Barnett meanwhile will face Mike Perez while enjoying a rich vein of form, coming off the back of two knockout wins including one against once-touted John Poore. This will be the first time he has travelled outside of America for a bout and unbeaten Perez, who made history in Limerick last month with two wins in one night, is unlikely to be in an unforgiving mood. If Barnett can survive the early onslaught he can conceivably last the distance, but that is a big if.

Finally, Luis Garcia returns off the back of a solid stoppage win over Nathan King in the King’s Hall earlier in June. Garcia is looking to shed the rust that has weighed him down after a year-long hiatus from the ring. American Demetrius Davis is now aged 40 and coming to the end of a career that has seen him mix with the likes of Bryant Brannon, Eric Lucas and Omar Sheika. He pulled off a shock in Germany just weeks ago when 12-0 Arthur Hein retired with an injury to hand Davis his first win in seven bouts.

Despite this upturn in fortunes he is not expected to test Garcia for too long before the Cuban lands the big shots and removes his man well before the end of the contest.

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23 June 2010 – By Jonny Stapleton

The IBF has warned Matthew Macklin that he could ruin his world title chances if he goes ahead with his European title fight with Darren Barker.

The world governing body revealed that the Irish middleweight has agreed to participate in a world title eliminator against Giovanni Lorenzo.

Emerge victorious from that bout and Macklin will become number one contender for Sebastian Sylvesters IBF middleweight strap and subsequently get the world title shot he has actively pursuing for the last eight months. However, upon hearing, last Friday, that the Birmingham born fighter was set to fight Barker for the European title, the IBF are considering withdrawing their offer.

Frank Warren won the purse bids to stage the exciting European clash and is all set to name a date and venue for the fight. It was hoped that Macklin could regain the continental strap he vacated earlier this year before pursuing the world route, but IBF have revealed their rules dont permit that.

Thus, if Macklin wants the opportunity to become mandatory for the IBF world middleweight title he will have to pull out of the fight with Barker.

Both Giovanni Lorenzo and Mathew Macklin have agreed to participate in an IBF eliminator for the number middleweight position. But now we have a problem. If Macklin is planning to fight for the EBU Title, under IBF Rules he is considered unavailable, IBF spokesperson Lindsey Tucker told the Irish Mirror.

Macklin can’t fight for the EBU Title and come back later and fight the IBF Eliminator. We just found out last Friday (after Macklin’s camp agreed to fight in the IBF Eliminator) that Macklin’s camp went to the purse bid and bid on the EBU Title fight. Had I known that Macklin was the mandatory challenger for the EBU and planned to participate in a purse bid for that fight, the IBF would not have sent Macklin a letter asking him to participate in the IBF eliminator.

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