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Cyclone Promotions target Irish return – McGuigan plans further signings

Cyclone Promotions chief Barry McGuigan plans to add some Irish talent to his stable in the near future and resume running shows on the island.

The former WBA featherweight champion’s outfit is the home of current champ Carl Frampton as well as Tyrone middleweight Conrad Cummings. However, in recent times, there links to Ireland have somewhat dwindled, with Marco McCullough, Jamie Conlan, and Anto Cacace all parting ways with the company and the last Irish show taking place all the way back in November 2015.

Understandably, attention and resources have been largely aimed towards Frampton as ‘The Jackal’ grew into one of the biggest stars in world boxing, and Irish interests took a back seat.

This now looks set to change, with Monaghan’s McGuigan revealing a desire to “revisit” Ireland for further shows and signings

Speaking at a Frampton media workout yesterday in Las Vegas, McGuigan said that “there has been a bit of a lull in professional boxing in Ireland over the last number of years. Brian Peters put on some good shows during a period about ten years ago but then there’s been a real lull, The economy didn’t help, then it’s more difficult to get television over there, it’s more difficult to get UK television companies to travel to the south of Ireland. It’s tougher to put on shows and be successful. ”

“We want to revisit there, our promotional company, in the next couple of years. We’re very much involved and I’m going to be signing some kids over there.”

A Frampton homecoming at Windsor Park this Summer has long been talked about and would be sure to be one of the biggest boxing events ever seen in Ireland. In addition, Cyclone have five television dates lined up in 2017 with Channel 5, and it is hoped that at least one of these will be for an Irish show in the vein of their two previous cards at the Waterfront Hall.

Joe O’Neill and Gavan Casey look ahead to 2017 in episode 1 of The Irish Boxing Show

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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