Busy 2012 ahead for Donnellan
By Jonny Stapleton
Ireland’s unluckiest boxer, Alan Donnellan saw three scheduled fights cancelled over the last six months so he has elected to hedge his bets in 2012 and already has three fight dates secure.
Donnellan has added a bit of girl power to his corner and is now managed by Maria Ni Shiuilleabhain and one of only two Irish female promoters has him set for a busy New Year.
Its not quite the Dublin bus adage for the Galway novice, who suffered a torrid boxing 2011,
as three rather than two fights come in quick sucession. Donnellan plans to double the amount of fights currently on his record before March.
The undefeated light middleweight won’t quite globe trot but none of the three bouts will take place in Ireland. Donnellan is out on January 20 in London and will follow that clash up with a February 24 Maters eliminator before rounding off an action packed three months with an eight round fight on Wexford promoter Derek Roche’s Leeds Irish Centre show on St Patrick’s weekend.
“I am thrilled to be able to represent a prospect like Alan Donnellan, he is a dream to work with, dedicated and focused and I hope to help develop his career in 2012 alongside his coach Ken Moore,” Ni Shiuilleabhain said.
A lack of Irish shows means Donnellan like so many others has to travel to get work, but Ni Shiuilleabhain is hoping to end the Irish boxing drought over the next 12 months.
The first lady of Irish boxing is in talks re two Irish based shows and still plans to run her intriguing Burlesque Boxing event, which was postponed earlier this year.
The busy first time promoter also revealed plans of a boxing charity event.
“I am in talks to run two shows next year, as well as my own Burlesque Boxing show towards the end of next year. I am going to try and develop the audience and gain more positive publicity for the professional boxers of Ireland by running a world record attempt early next year with help from www.irish-boxing.com for the Temple Street Childresn hospital in dublin city centre, details will be announced early 2012.”
