Headline News

New replacement added to Last Man Standing line-up


Another replacement has this afternoon been confirmed for the Ireland’s Last Man Standing competition, the ranks of which have now been replenished to seven.

The single-elimination tournament takes place eight days from now [Saturday March 3rd] at the National Stadium in Dublin and will be shown live on TG4., with a new-look line-up currently being put together.

Three fighters confirmed their withdrawal from the big-money middleweight tournament this week and, with doubts over some others on the entry list, promoters Assassin and Red Corner have bounced back hard and are in the process of bringing in a further six fighters who will either compete or act as standbys.

Yesterday recent Irish super middleweight champ JJ McDonagh was the first shock announcement, and today another Assassin fighter has been added to the mix. The promoters have announced that Cork super middleweight Vladimir Belujsky [2(2)-0-1] has been entered into the Prizefighter-style tournament.

Following a debut draw last March, the Slovakian-born Mitchelstown man has since scored two stoppages – knocking out Manny Bique in October before claiming a quickfire first round win in Mexico last month.

‘The Slovak Rebel’ comes to the tournament sharp and was recently one of the chief sparring partner’s for Chris Eubank Jr ahead of the English fighter’s failed world title challenge versus George Groves last week.

Belujsky had initially stated that he would not compete in the competition, instead focusing on the Irish super middleweight title vacated by McDonagh and the Slovakian middleweight title.

However, the 22-year-old has had a change of heart and now enters a tournament which guarantees at least €25,000 for the winner as well as a shot at the Irish middleweight title.

Belujsky joins Chris Blaney, Bernard Roe, Roy Sheahan, Ger Healy, Nick Quigley, and McDonagh in the soon-to-be eight-man line-up.

dpg

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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