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European Boxing Union Rankings April update

The European Boxing Union rankings for the month of April have been published, with plenty of Irish fighters featuring.

The rankings, accounting for all bouts up until the end of the past month have seven Irish boxers listed.

There are some changes, mostly positivem for the rated Irish boxers and no new entries.

Wicklow’s Katie Taylor [5(3)-0] remains the #3 lightweight in Europe, however it would seem unlikely that the Bray fighter will chase European honours, with a world title homecoming in Dublin this October or November.

Luke Keeler [12(5)-2(1)] moves up another two spots to #11 at middleweight. The Ballyfermot boxer will look to build on this with an Irish title fight next month against Roscommon’s Darren Cruise on Saturday June 24th at the National Stadium on the Red Corner ‘For Honour & Pride’ show.

Belfast super featherweight southpaw Anto Cacace [15(7)-0] holds firm at #9 on the 130lbs ladder. The Apache is due to face Martin J Ward (ranked #2) in June – however we await an official announcement for the June 10th Chris Eubank card in London which the fight is believed to be on.

Also at super featherweight, Irish champion James Tennyson [18(14)-2(2)] stays at #13.

Ryan Burnett [15(9)-0] remains at #1 in the bantamweight rankings, however he is on the cusp of being removed from the ladder should he win the IBF title off champion Lee Haskins on June 10th.

WBO super flyweight world title hopeful Jamie Conlan [19(11)-0] is also rated at 118lbs, being placed at #4.

Carl Frampton [23(14)-1(0)] remains ranked #1 featherweight, however it’s extremely unlikely that the Belfast boxer will aim for a second European title.

The six male fighters also feature in the EBU European Union rankings (there is no EU title for women).

#9 Middleweight – Luke Keeler
#8 Super Featherweight – Anto Cacace
#11 Super Featherweight – James Tennyson
#1 Featherweight – Carl Frampton
#1 Bantamweight – Ryan Burnett
#3 Bantamweight – Jamie Conlan

In addition, eight more Irish boxers are also in the EU ladders.

Tommy McCarthy [9(5)-1(0] drops one place to #16 in the cruiserweight rankings.

Peter McDonagh [27(23)-28(2)-1] is up another two places to #18 at welterweight.

Phil Sutcliffe Jr [13(8)-1(0)] remains at #19 at light welterweight, however this does not factor in his controversial stoppage loss to Josh Leather last weekend.

Steve Ormond [24(13)-3(1)] falls one spot to #28 – although he intends to campaign at lightweight, and his WBO European title fight with Craig Evans in Belfast on June 17th will see him removed from the EBU rankings should he win.

Ahead of his high-profile fight on the Sky Belfast show, Paul Hyland Jr [15(5)-0] drops one place in in the lightweight ladder to #19, while Jono Carroll [13(1)-0] also drops one place to #18 – although he will campaign at super featherweight going forward.

In the super featherweight rankings, Declan Geraghty [14(4)-2(1)] is up two places to #19.

Finally, Marco McCullough [17(10)-3(2)] remains at #16 at featherweight ahead of his British title fight with Ryan Walsh this Saturday.

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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