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What’s Next for the April Fool’s Day Fourteen?

This evening [April 1st] we were due to be making our way across Dublin to the National Stadium for the inaugural It’s A Bout Boxing Ireland card – Táimid Laochra.

Sadly, the fourteen-fight show was pulled by the Boxing Union of Ireland on Monday “due to a number of conditions not being complied with by the promoter.”

A refixed date has been mooted, and details are expected soon. However, in the interim, we take a look at what is, and what could be, on the horizon for the fourteen fighters who were set to appear on the April Fool’s Day bill.

Thankfully six fighters already have new dates, while some educated guesses leave us confident that many more will find themselves back in the ring soon.

Mike Perez – 21(13)-2(1)-1
The Cuban-Cork heavyweight was due to headline tonight’s bill, and he will headline the card when it eventually takes place. This week ‘The Rebel’ also secured another date, and will feature on the April 22nd Kieran Farrell Promotions ‘A New Era’ card in Belfast

Bernard Roe – 4(0)-0
The Dublin light middle was set to return from injury on the card. No further date has been announced, although the Celtic Warriors fighter could perhaps feature on the Murphys Boxing card in Melrose, Massachusetts on May 20th.

Gerard Whitehouse – 5(1)-0
The young welterweight from Balbriggan already had another date in the pipeline at the time of the cancellation. Crank’s focus will now be solely on his co-headline slot on the ‘Celtic Clash 2’ card at the National Stadium on May 27th.

Rohan Date – 2(1)-0
The welterweight power-puncher is currently back in Ireland. Sadly, the Dubai-based Déise fighter is now home on a tourist trip rather than for a fight. Date will presumably be back in action soon enough once he returns to the United Arab Emirates.

Jay Byrne – 4(1)-1(0)
The self-managed fighter secured another fight date this week, and will now box Rio Olympian Josh Kelly on Matchroom’s April 15th Glasgow show. Welterweight Byrne will take on the Sunderland debutant over six rounds.

Lynn Harvey – 3(2)-1(0)
The Dublin light flyweight is one of three, so far, who has secured a replacement fight date on the Gunning and Davitt’s ‘Celtic Clash 2’ bill at the National Stadium on May 27th.

Carl McDonald – 1(0)-0
Harvey’s gym mate has had no new date announced yet. Could feature on the refixed ‘Táimid Laochra’ show or could be another that is added to the massive ‘Celtic Clash 2’ extravaganza.

Allan Phelan – 7(4)-2(1)-1
The Kildare super feather has no new date currently, but could be a man in demand. Possibilities for Phelan include the rescheduled ‘Táimid Laochra’ show, a trip Stateside with Paschal Collins for the Murphys Boxing show, or a spot on the ‘Celtic Clash 2’ card to further build an all-Kildare showdown with Eric Donovan.

Keane McMahon – Debut
The Ice Man, who recently signed a managerial deal with David Murphy of Dublin Plumbing and Gas, is without a new date and looks unlikely to feature on the refixed It’s A Bout Boxing Ireland card. The Dublin welterweight has promised news of his debut soon, could he be another on the ‘Celtic Clash 2’ bill?

Johnny Corcoran – Debut
The light heavyweight debutant is highly rated by Tony Davitt and it is assumed he will be soon added to the Celtic Clash 2 card.

Barry Barnes – Debut
The Waterford super middleweight debutant should be one to feature on the refixed It’s A Bout Boxing Ireland card.

Dylan McDonagh – Debut
Like Barnes, the Dublin super bantamweight debutant is another signed to It’s A Bout Boxing Ireland, and is likely to feature on the new ‘Táimid Laochra’ bill.

Regan Buckley – Debut
The Bray bantam, still only 20, was to debut tonight. A new debut date was swiftly secured and ‘Rocket’ will make his pro debut on May 27th on the ‘Celtic Clash 2’ bill.

John Joyce – Debut
The Lucan middleweight debutant, trained and managed by Tony Davitt, was unsurprisingly added to the ‘Celtic Clash 2’ show during the week.

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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