Chasing Europe
22 February 2010 – By Steve Wellings
By his own admission Patrick Hyland took a few rounds to get going against tough Londoner Mickey Coveney on February 13. Regardless, the Tallaght man remains hot property on the Irish scene and as his rankings improve the unbeaten featherweight could soon find himself staring across the ring at a European champion.
Im game for any featherweight in Europe. Id like a European title shot by the end of the year but Ill keep working hard in the meantime by staying active, said the 26-year-old.
To make the big fights both lads will want to be well paid so youd ideally want at least a European on the line, added Brian Peters. Eddie Hyland has been sparring [European champion] Oleg Yefimovich whos a very good fighter. Oleg could be a possibility for Patrick but there are loads of things going on at the moment so well see what develops.
If things go to plan Patrick may end up meeting a man who is all too familiar to the Dublin fight fraternity. Spaniard Kiko Martinezs name is firmly in the mix.
Id love a fight with Kiko Martinez and Id make sure and keep my hands right up to my chin! Joked Patrick, referring to the frequency with which Coveney caught him on the night and indeed Martinezs trademark power.
I see Kiko purely as a big puncher, dangerous for a couple of rounds but like most big punchers they dont like to take it back. They like to bully opponents but I can punch hard too and Ive sparred Kiko so Im aware of his power.
While Martinez may have lost twice to Rendall Munroe and once in an IBF title eliminator to Takalani Ndlovu it is not difficult to recognize that this is a fighter who has only tasted defeat at the top level of his profession.
Kikos a name fighter and hes only lost to the better guys in the division like Munroe and Ndlovu, reasoned Peters.
Theyre quality opponents and a world title eliminator is a serious level, a level Patrick has yet to compete at so a scalp of Kiko would be a great win for him.
