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Cork won’t have to wait 10 years for another show assures eager-to-return Murphy

Noel Murphy [14(2)-1(0)-1] assures Cork fight fans won’t have to wait 10 years to see professional boxing again.

The New York-based Macroom man along with promoter Martin Horgan brought a card back to the Rebel County for the first time since Brian Peters ran a show populated by the likes of Willie Casey, Spike O’Sullivan and the Cork Cubans back in 2009.

It doesn’t look like there will be such a wait for another show, as having tasted the atmosphere of fighting in front of his home fans and appearing in his home city, the Kevin Crowley-managed operator is adamant he will return sooner rather than later.

Murphy isn’t too sure as when he will appear again despite rumours of a December fight night at the Neptune Stadium, but is certain he will fight again at home.

“We will have a look at whats on offer in the States, but we will definitely be back. How regular we fight here we will see. We have to sit down and see how tonight went, but we will be back,” he told Irish-Boxing.com before reflecting on the atmosphere for his fight in particular.

“It’ was an unbelievable atmosphere. Really unbelievable, brilliant to fight in that and come out with a win. They were all delighted and that makes the night for me. It was a good crowd there and they were great.”

For city like Cork not to have a show for a decade seems unbelievable in itself, particularly with how successful Spike O’Sullivan has been during that time.

So, for Murphy to be the fighter to inspire a return of boxing to the Rebel County and the Neptune Stadium left him feeling proud.

“I feel massive pride,” he continues, reflecting on the importance of his eight-round win over Hungarian Adam Mate..

“It’s the first show in Cork in 10 years and I am top of the bill and most of the crowd in there are from my town Macroom. You do feel proud. It’s great to see boxing here again and it’s great to be a part of that,” he adds before revealing he didn’t feel a weight of expectation.

“I had nerves, but good nerves. I had those butterflies and I was glad I had them. You’d be worried if you didn’t have them, it’s only natural to’ be a bit nervous or excited. I was more excited than anything else.”

A little bit of gloss was taken off the fight night by the fact Murphy didn’t fight for a title as first expected.

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Through no fault of his own the Irish title wasn’t on the line during the main event. The Cork fighter saw Jay Byrne and then Jake Hanney pull out and claims others around the weight were not keen.

It didn’t prevent a successful night or show, but the 25-year-old was somewhat upset with his domestic rivals.

“There was no one in Ireland that would take the fight. We wanted the Irish title and no one would step up. The opponent was what he was, but no one here wanted the challenge so we had to bring someone else in. It’s very disappointing to be honest, but we got the win and that’s it.”

That frustration may be added to by the fact it could quite possibly have been Murphy’s last chance to fight for the strap. If a return is a year or so down the line, the title may be tied up or he may feel he has passed domestic level.

There is an option of challenging for it on a Boxing Ireland show in September, but that doesn’t seem overly appealing to the New York based operator.

He also suggests events leading up to Saturday’s event would leave him worried with regard to any proposed domestic dalliance.

“They wouldn’t take the fight now and when people are saying there are not many shows here could you trust anyone to fight the next time? When fellas are pulling out of the fight a few weeks before and others turning it down you’d be worried if you were to try make it again.”

“It’s not fair on my team or the fans what happened and you don’t want that again,” he adds before reflecting on opponent Mate and praising his following one more time.

“He was awkward. I am just happy to get the win out of it. I want to thank everyone for the support and coming out. They really made the show. Without them it wouldn’t have happened and the atmosphere they created was great.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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