Best Upcoming Stars In Irish Boxing Right Now
There is a deep history of boxing talents from Ireland, which has only been elevated by the world dominance that we have seen Carl Frampton and Katie Taylor enjoy over the previous ten years.
The success that those stars have achieved have set the standard, and have helped inspire the next generation of talented boxers, highlighting that there is a very clear path to the top of the sport if the boxers are talented enough.
So, who are some of the Irish boxers that fans should be keeping a closer eye on over the coming years that you should pay attention to if you are betting on boxing at Bovada sportsbook?
We understand there are numerous stars on the rise but we believe we are positioned well enough to make our best predictions
Kellie Harrington
Women’s boxing has never been in a brighter place as it is right now, and one star that has helped inspire a generation of female talent is Katie Taylor. One fighter that she inspired to take up the sport is Kellie Harrington, who already looks on course to emulate what the legendary fighter before her achieved. Harrington was one of the standout performers in the ring at the 2020 Olympics, as she won gold in the women’s lightweight division.
That saw her add to the gold that she won the World Championships in 2018, and the silver that was won in the 2016 World Championships in the light welterweight division. Her success at the Olympics was a landmark occasion for Ireland, as she became only the third boxing gold medallist at the event. In the final, she easily beat Beatriz Ferreira 5-0 on the judges’ scorecards. Her victory has since been honored, as she was awarded the freedom of Dublin city, but her focus will be switched back to her boxing in the near future.
Phillip Sutcliffe Jnr
Phillip Sutcliffe Jnr is one of the hottest properties in Irish boxing at present, as the boxer from Dublin holds a professional record of 15-2. He has competed in 71 rounds of boxing throughout his 17 bouts and has a KO win rate of 52.94%. Since making his debut in 2009, he has impressed across the world, and he continues to make his mark to this day. His latest bout ended in a victory against Eligio Palacios in 2018.
Sutcliffe Jr won the national title before turning professional, and has a special relationship with former UFC champion Conor McGregor, as he sparred with the UFC star at his father’s gym. McGregor was full of praise for the Sutcliffe family in the build up to his mega-money showdown with Floyd Mayweather, as he admitted that the two were able to get him up to the standard required in the ring. He also believes that the former national champion has a bright future in the sport, and has ear-marked him as a potential future world champion.
John Joe Nevin
John Joe Nevin was one of the standout performers at the 2012 Olympics, and alongside Katie Taylor, was one two Irish boxers to take home medals. Nevin’s medal came in the Bantamweight division, as he won the silver, which went alongside the golds that he won the European Amateur Championships in 2013 and European Union Amateur Championships in 2006. Nevin has a perfect professional career to date, as he has won all 14 professional bouts that he has been involved in. Four of his victories have been recorded by KO, and he has been in the ring with some extremely talented athletes to this point.
However, it has been a long time since we last saw the Irishman compete, as he hasn’t fought professionally since beating Freddy Fonseca by unanimous decision in York to pick up the WBA International Super-Featherweight title in November 2019. His life has been littered with controversies, but he remains one of the most talented male boxers that have come out of Ireland in the past 20 years, and fans will be hoping that he steps back into the ring in the near future.
What’s Next For Katie Taylor?
There is no denying that the brightest Irish talent in the world of boxing remains Katie Taylor. The superstar has transcended boxing in her country throughout her career, and has taken women’s boxing to the next level. She successfully retained her WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF and The Ring lightweight titles earlier this year with a unanimous decision victory against Amanda Serrano.
She has beaten effectively every star in her weight class throughout her professional career, which means fans are wondering what could be next for the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer. A rematch against Serrano could be her next fight, as she has appeared keen on fighting at Croke Park in her home country. However, Eddie Hearn has also admitted that fights against Cris Cyborg or Holly Holm could also be on the agenda as a potential next bout.
