After the success of Bernard Dunne’s trip to Castlebar, Mayo last Saturday night, the focus of Irish boxing returns to Dublin this weekend for a fascinating bill featuring two potentially explosive domestic dust-ups.
In a bout being touted as ‘The Battle of the Liberties’, rising star Patrick Hyland will put his unbeaten record on the line when he takes on the ever dangerous Paul Griffin for the vacant Irish featherweight title.
The pair are actually related, through their respective grandparents, the well-known Liberties family, the Winters, and this promises to be a passionate, full-blooded affair.
Meanwhile, Hyland’s brother, Eddie, will also be hoping to leave the National Stadium with a belt around his waist as he will be meeting the highly-rated Belfast man Kevin Hara for the vacant Irish super-featherweight title.
Given their respective styles, fireworks would be almost a guarantee anyway, but given that a win would push the victor into European title contention, a thrilling fight is a certainty. The fact that O’Hara dropped a decision to Hyland as an amateur will only extra spice to the occasion.
There a number of interesting fights on the undercard, too, with another Hyland, super-bantamweight Paul, taking on England’s Sumala Badu in an eight-rounder.
Cork’s Gary O’Sullivan will meet Tye Williams in a light-middleweight contest scheduled for four rounds, while Dublin cruiserweights Jonathon O’Brien and Ian Timms will both be in action.
Galway’s Declan Timlin is also scheduled to appear but his opponent has yet to be confirmed.
Irish Featherweight Title:
Patrick Hylan v Paul Griffin (10 Rounds)
Irish Super-featherweight title:
Edward Hyland v Kevin O’Hara (10 Rounds)
Super-bantamweight:
Paul Hyland v Sumala Badu (8 Rounds)
Light-middleweight:
Gary O’Sullivan v Tye Williams (4 Rounds)
Cruiserweight:
Jonathon O’Brien v Radcliffe Green (6 Rounds)
Cruiserweight:
Ian Timms v Lee Rutland (4 Rounds)
Heavyweight:
Declan Timlin v TBC (6 Rounds)
The Price of tickets are as follows:
Gallery €40
Floor & Balcony €60
Ringside €100
Available from: Ticketmaster.ie, Destination Events 01-8224144, Pat Hyland 087-0613785.
