By Jonny Stapleton

DEE ‘Wealthy’ Walsh believes he was value for money as he defeated Lee Noble in England last weekend.

However the 22 year old warns there is still room for improvement and expects to to pregress as a fighter further by the time he fights in Belfast in April.

Waldo certainly wasn’t found wanting against experienced Noble, beating the experienced English pug 39-37 in just his second fight.

The confident Belfast super middleweight  was content with his display and is confident he is enroute to becoming the ‘complete article’.

“I thought my performance was great,” Walsh told www.irish-boxing.com  “I moved well. I was flashy. In my opinion I wasn’t at my very very best, but I can see things coming together. With more great sparring  and fights I will become the complete article.”

Walsh took the bout against the 24 year old fighter, who has shared the ring and traded leather with the likes of Martin Murray, Billy Joe Saunders and Ciaran Healy at late notice.

A quick Noble study, however, lead him to believe he could ace the test the English man provided.

Indeed not only was Walsh confident he could get past Noble on the Hennessy show he is adamant his talents paired with hard work will ensure he gets to the very top.

“Myself and my team talked about the fight and about the short notice, but once I seen a video of him I knew that with my ability and being elusive there was no way he could have beat me. I do believe once I am at my best I can compete with the best at world level in the future. With hard work and dedication, beat the best in the world,” Walsh added.
The Belfast native  is out again on the Tyson Fury undercard on April 14. Needless to say the Gary Hyde managed star is excited and so are a lot of Belfast boxing community, according to the fighter.
“I have been recently added to the Tyson Fury v Martin Rogan showdown in the Odyssey which I’m really excited about. I know there are a lot of people all over Belfast excited about seeing me, so I’m planning on being myself, flashy an explosive. I want to give people their moneys worth and to leave them wanting to see more of Dee Walsh!”

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Ciaran Healy has been handed the chance to upset former World Champion Enzo Maccarinelli in the Motor Point Arena this Saturday night.

The Belfast veteran steps in at late notice after a chest infection prevented John Waldron taking the bout.

Healy is meant to act as further WB40 for the Welsh fighter, who is just fight into a comeback after a year sabbatical, as he looks to challenge  Shane McPhilbin for the British Cruiserweight title in March.
Irish boxing’s renaissance man, however is an upsurge in form and has two knock wins and two close points reverse in his last four fights and will certainly have a punchers chance.

Despite the former EBU (European) cruiserweight, World Boxing Union cruiserweight and WBO cruiserweight world champion’s intention to challenge for the Cruiserweight crown this fight is rumoured to be taking place at light heavy.
Tommy Tolan is also rumoured to have secured a bout on the card.

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By Jonny Stapleton

RICKY Hatton claims former amateur stand out Ryan Burnett will the next big name in Irish boxing.

The former World Champion and Hatton Promotions boss signed Belfast’s World Youth Olympic games gold medallist to a three year contract earlier this month and is confident he can bring Burnett to the top.

The two weight champion claims the 19 year old has the talent and attitude to eventually join the list of Irish greats and to compete at world level.

Hatton isn’t just speaking from a promoters vantage point, however, Manchester’s favourite boxing son is also training the former Holy Family ABC fighter and has been impressed with what he has seen in the ring.

“I am delighted and proud to be associated with Ryan. I have really like what I have seen of him so far. Ireland has had a lot of champions over the years. You had Barry McGuigan and now Carl Frampton is doing well, to name just two, but  Ryan Burnett will be the next Irish fighter they will be all talking about. I lost track of how many times he won as a amateur. He won seven Ulster titles,  five  Antrim titles, numerous multi nations and an Olympic youth gold medal. He is built for success and deserves all the success he gets. Said Hatton.

“He is an absolute talent. is real eager to train. He is also a real character. He is likeable and has a bounce in his step. He has moved from Belfast to Manchester to train with me and to learn his trade and that shows dedication. To leave your home, family and girlfriend at any stage is difficult and he has done it at 19.”

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By Jonny Stapleton

MARTIN Rogan believes Tyson Fury shouldn’t have vacated his British and Commonwealth titles to avoid a clash with fellow undefeated British heavyweight David Price .

Not because the move opened the Manchester based giant to ridicule and prompted people to question his fighting spirit, but because he thinks Fury would have had a better chance of defeating the much touted Liverpudlian than ‘The Iron Man’.

The man christened after the great heavyweight  Mike Tyson has been labelled ‘Chicken Fury’ by Frank Maloney after he elected to settle his differences with 40 year old Rogan in the Odyssey Arena on April 14 rather defend against mandatory challenger Price.

Rogan was quick to defend his next foe stating he is a fighting man with a lot of heart, but that didn’t stop him questioning Fury’s intelligence.

The former Commonwealth champion claims Price would have been the wise move for the 23 year old world title hopeful, claiming no other fighter will match the inaugural Prizefighter‘s want and desire to win.

“It is a simple as this Tyson Fury doesn’t know what he has let himself for,” Rogan told Mirror Sport.

“He has never been in with anyone with the grit and desire that I have and he couldn’t have found an opponent that wanted it more than me. I have a massive want. All I can think about is winning this fight. He could have fought Price and I know from talking to his team why that fight didn’t happen. Its money, TV and boxing politics. I know he isn’t a chicken and I know he has a fighters heart. But Price could have been a wiser move because I know Price doesn’t want it more than me.”

Since the official announcement of a clash that fell through twice last year Rogan’s age and recent inactivity have been questioned.

The former taxi driver claims neither will hinder him and promises to deliver and prove he is the king of the Irish heavyweights come April 14.

“I am fit as ever. I am working with former Ulster player Stephen Bell on my strength and conditioning. I have already noticed improvements. Bernardo Checa has added a bit of refinement to the brawler in me too and I know I can beat him. I can’t change the year I was born and the inactivity wasn’t because I didn’t want to fight. I don’t see either as an issue,” the Belfast favourite  added before joking “Look at the great Muhammad Ali he was three years out and came back better than ever. They say the only difference between me and Ali is our skin colour.”

‘Big Roggie’ may be all quips and smiles but the heavyweight entertainer knows he is entering last chance salon. Defeat could enforce retirement.However the Antrim native has this belief that he isn’t just fighting for himself. He seems to feel a degree of responsibility for up and coming fighters.

“If I beat Fury I am in contention, but it also means more fights for Belfast fighters.  There are no cards out there for young kids to learn their trade on. We are starved of cards in Ireland and we have to change that.”

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Brian Magee is literally flying the Irish boxing flag world wide. Not just because he is our only current world champ, but due to his nomadic tendencies.

Magee has packed his shorts and gloves and headed off to Canada, Costa Rican and Denmark for this last three fights.

Since stopping Rudy Markussen to retain his WBA Super middleweight title last weekend Irish fight have been predicting  a homecoming.

It seems, however Irish boxing’s most travelled fighter will continue to fight on the road before jetting off into the sunset.

“I would predict Brian’s next fight will be in Denmark. Possibly around June time. Why not he has won twice over there via knock out. The Danish fans certainly recognise him and he has become popular over there. We are pursuing the regular champion Balazay and it is very possible that fight could take place in Denmark,” manager pat Magee told www.irish-boxing.com

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By Jonny Stapleton

MARTIN Rogan criticised fellow heavyweights David Haye and Derek Chisora’s much publicised German antics, but believes the infamous post press conference fight and slap gate could put him back on the world title path.

On the same night as Brit Chisora was challenging world champion Vitali Klitschko, Rogan officially announced a fight with giant heavyweight Tyson Fury.

And the ‘Iron Man’ believes if he beats the World top ten ranked heavyweight he could place himself in Klitschko and subsequently world title pole.

Rogan thinks British fighters Haye and Chisora ruined their chances of facing either of the German based Ukrainians again- and is aware Fury has long been linked with the dominate brothers.

“I have the key to get back into contention in my hand now. The Klitschko’s won’t want to fight Haye or Chisora again. Tyson Fury has been linked with them more than once so if I beat him its only natural I am an option,” Rogan exclusively  told  Mirror Sport.

Rogan: I smack talk but i don't smack out of th ring

Belfast veteran Rogan has had plenty of public spats with Fury over the last six months. Indeed he gate-crashed Fury’s Belfast press conference, but he claims he would never resort to exchanging anything other than verbal blows until he gets in the ring.

The former Commonwealth champion has respect for his next foe and stressed there will be no Chisora style antics when he goes head to head with Manchester based fighter of Antrim decent.

“There is no animosity between me and Tyson. We did have a few back and forts. He said I missed the boat and I told him I am the captain. We have shook hands. We are grown men and put it to bed. I wouldn’t lower myself to the antics of the weekend. Ok I can get under my opponents skin sometimes but I would never bring it that extreme. I would never spit at or slap anyone. I will fight Tyson in the ring and shake his hand after no matter what the result.”

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By Patrick Appleton

JAMIE Kavanagh says he is looking forward to getting back in the ring next month and he promises to banish any lasting thoughts of December’s disappointing draw with Rameses Gil.

Kavanagh still feels he was unlucky to come away with a draw that night as he feels he won the fight but it was not to be and he has had to move on.

“I should be fighting at the end of March hopefully; I’m just waiting on a date. I was told I’d hear today when, maybe the 24th in Texas or the 31st in Cancun.”

The Golden Boy boxer will be anxious to show what he can do after the disappointing draw and the problems that arose after the fight.  The Irishman suffered a fracture to his right hand and cut to the eye but he says it is all fine and he is fighting fight now.

“I’m just in the gym getting back into shape really. The fractured hand has healed and eye has too. It was a nasty cut so it took time but the most frustrating thing was that I just wanted to jump back in the ring again but I couldn’t.”

The wild card prospect says that Freddie Roach has told him to forget about December’s disappointment and the Dubliner is adamant that come March we will see an explosive performance.

He feels that a number of elements were not right on the night such as nervousness, officiating and the ensuing mid-fight injuries.

“Freddie has me working on more things this time around. He and I believe we won the fight, 4 rounds clearly too, but that night a lot of things went wrong not only for myself but other fighters too and the show wasn’t great to tell the truth.

“I was very nervous on the night which didn’t help. I grew up as a kid watching Sky Sports and the big cards and then you’re fighting on it. You can only imagine the pressure.”

March will be retribution time for the orthodox fighter, but he is only looking at getting this next fight out of the way and moving on to the next one. He hopes to successfully negotiate his next bout this week and says Golden Boy have plans to put him on the Khan-Peterson rematch on May 19^th.

“I spoke to Golden Boy in the gym the other day and they want me fighting at the end of March then another fight on the Khan undercard in May. I’m happy with those plans and maybe I will be shown on Sky Sports again, I’m not sure.”

So things are getting busy around this time of year for one of Ireland’s most well connected boxers. A boxer doesn’t train at the Wild Card Gym unless he has the tools for it.

Jamie Kavanagh most certainly does and he is aiming to get back on track this Spring under the attentive guidance of Freddie Roach.

All eyes are fixed towards the end of March though, as the exciting fighter will look to make it nine from ten in the professional game.

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Mark Heffron is the second Irish fighter to be selected for the proposed May 5 Irish Middleweight Prizefighter, according to manager Gary Hyde.

The 20 year old who is unbeaten in five contests joins Joe Rea as a fighter claiming to a cert for the show set for Belfast in the summer.
“Mark ‘Kid Dynamite’ Heffron promises to put some explosive performances when he fights on the May 5th Irish Middleweight Prizefighter in Belfast. Kid Dynamite who is highly touted by Freddie Roach to become one of boxing’s brightest stars will also fight on March 16th at the FW Wembley show,” Hyde revealed today.

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THE weekend’s out of ring antics in Germany saw boxing make headlines for the wrong reasons. David Haye, Derek Chisroa, slapgate, bottlegate and indeed the press did their bit to drag the fight game and its participants name through the mud.

Sweet science specialists  once again became labelled street bullies. The sport which has a world wide reputation for keeping young kids on the straight and narrow has since been labelled a ‘thugs games’.

One member of the Irish boxing family, however proved pugilists are not all brute over aggressive gangsters after his win on Saturday night.

On a night that saw boxing’s public image take more body blows than  an early Mike Tyson opponent Dee ‘Waldo’ Walsh showed compassion, consideration and social awareness.

On a seperate note the 22 year old rising boxing star dedicated his win to recently deceased boxing teenager Gavin McComb as well as Sean McShane, Brendan Smith and the The Clarke family.

The unbeaten prospect also tried to shine some of the spot light directed on him after his defeat of Lee Noble to the suicide issue he believes is a problem in certain parts of Belfast.
“I want to dedicate my win to the champ Gavin McComb, my good freind Sean McShane, Brendan Smith and The Clarke Family. I would also like to dedicate it to anybody who lost a family member or a close freind to suicide. Lately in Belfast and especially West Belfast, where I’m from, there has been a lot of suicides and I want to bring awareness to the issue.”

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By Jonny Stapleton

Brain Magee proved he is the ‘genuine’ WBA world champion with his sensational stoppage of Rudy Markussen in Copenhagen last night and the Interim champion now wants the regular belt he feels belongs to him.

Having retained his title the Belfast veteran is now targeting a fight with WBA super middleweight champion of the world, Karoly Balzsay and hopes to challenge the Hungarian this summer.

The former British and European champion’s name has been mentioned with the likes of Mikkel Kessler, Carl Froch, George Groves and Andre Ward, but manager Pat Magee revealed his fighter instructed him to pursue the regular belt and Balzsay.

“We have already contacted the WBA and told them we are  looking for regular title and a fight with Balzay. Brian is the mandatory challenger for that belt anyway. Saturday night was all important. It was big step up. Brian proved he is the genuine WBA champion and he told me he wants the belt to ensure there is no doubt about it. So that is our next move.,” Pat Magee said after contacting Mirror Sport.

BODY BLOW- Markussen can't beat the count

At 36 years of age it seems like every fight for Magee is sudden death at present. He could be one loss away from retirement. Pat Magee, however is adamant his charge isn’t thinking of hanging up his gloves as he enjoys an amazing boxing renaissance.

Indeed the champions manager claims Magee is maturing in the same manner of a fine wine and see’s improvements with age.

“That shot he landed on Saturday was top quality. I never seen him land one like that before. There is no defence for a shot like that. The ref said after he knew Markussen wouldn’t get  up. It was just devastating,” Magee added.

“Bernardo was working on that shot in the gym with Brian. Brian Magee is becoming an aggressive hard hitting south paw. He is a different type fighter now than he was when he was 30 and it looks bright for the future.”

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