THERE might not have been a Rocky style ending for Martin Rogan, the man deemed to have lived the ‘Real Rocky story’ in the Odyssey Arena last Saturday night, but there was certainly enough drama to keep the punters entertained on the under card.

Not a Latvian dust man in sight as Hennessey Sports cooked up a very appetising fight menu.
A Shamrock on his shorts suggest Chris Eubank Jr. was trying to sway favour with Irish fight fans, who would have booed is father when he fought Steve Collins back in the 90s, but the 22 year old didn’t need any gimmicks, as the sizeable crowd seemed to warm to him immediately.

Once ‘Simply the Best’ echoed around the Odyssey the punters rose to their feet, jumping over the top rob ala Eubank snr brought a massive roar and the prospects performance ensured complimentary mummers from the knowledgeable Belfast fight fans.

Eubank, who was accompanied to the ring by his father, who himself was so immaculately dressed even clan Hyland  would be impressed, started confidently. He looked aggressive and purposeful against the undefeated

Scot Paul Allsion and seemed to revel in the spot light.

Jnr was there to be hit and got caught a number of times in the second stanza but his superior skills and power eventually told and he stopped the brave Scot 43 seconds into round 4.

Another fighter to take the short route to victory was Marc McCullough. The Belfast fighter ensured a return to winning ways with a 2:09 first round stoppage of Sean Watson.

There was nothing ‘early’ about Conall Carmichael’s bout with Moses Matovu of Box Nation fame.

The Belfast fighter made his pro debut at the age of 33 and pointed his way to a first paid victory.

An Irish senior champion in 1999, Carmichael, who had Harry Hawkins in his corner and Bernard Dunne as one of his ring side supporters, boasts a good pedigree and he looked patient, strong and intelligent en route to a 40-36 score victory.

European semi pro champion Paul Moffett also made an impressive debut. The Down fighter is keen to move

up the paid rankings and took a difficult debut fight with Ciaran Healy.

A 40-37 victory over the ‘prospect punisher’ Healy suggests Moffet, who wanted to fight Eubank jr on the show, has what it takes to compete at a at decent level already.

One fighter who may no longer be able to produce at the top is Darren Corbett.

The Belfast banger was out boxed by Mayo’s Michael Sweeney on another interesting under card match up.

Former Commonwealth cruiserweight champion, Corbett spent a lot of time talking up his chances pre fight and look odds on to back up his words with action in the first round.

A looping right hand sent Sweeney to the canvas in the open stanza but was more a flash than crash knock down. Sweeney regained his feet, composure and recovered to box his way to victory.

The Ballinrobe fighter did show glimpses of quality, but still looks like he could benefit from a stricter pre fight camp and seems to box in reaction to what is in front of him instead of taking a fight by the scruff of the neck and dominating.

Nevertheless a deserved 58-56 victory on a big card will do the Mayo man, who is set spar Mikel Kessler this week, no harm.

One fighter who did make a statement of intent was Joe Hillerby. The Emerald promotion jewel claimed the light middleweight Northern Irish title with a very impressive 98-93 win over Willie Thompson.

Hillerby maintained his undefeated status with a dominant victory. The Sandyrow fighter produced the best performance of his novice career boxing clever to beat the Bally Clare man.

Indeed Hillerby, who went past four rounds for the first time, came close to being proceedings to a halt in round 7, but took his foot of the gas allowing his opponent to survive and eventually bringing the referee’s score card back into play.

The Belfast man looked confident after the final bell and he has ever reason to be as he registered an impressive 98-93 victory in front of delighted stable mates Ray and Mark Ginley.

Another fighter to impress on the undercard of what was billed as the ‘highest profile Irish title fight of all time’ was Dee Walsh.

‘Waldo’ couldn’t be found guilty of hiding as he stopped the durable Tommy Tolan in round five of the hardest test of his pro career.

The Belfast fighters third win played out in front of a sizeable crowd despite the fact it came after the main event and it was clear to see why so many people hung around to watch Walsh in action.

The NowWhere2Hyde fighter oozed quality and cut the experienced Tolan badly before the referee eventually called a halt to proceeding.

John O’Donnell was another Irish winner on the entertaining undercard making a successful comeback by out pointing Martin Walsh in a 10 round contest.