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LIVE UPDATES: Ireland’s Last Man Standing


It’s finally here.

After weeks of anticipation, a few bumps, and a once-in-a-generation blizzard, we have found ourselves ringside for the inaugural Ireland’s Last Man Standing competition.

Eight middleweights will battle it out over the next few hours for a massive €25,000 top prize.

A Prizefighter-style, single elimination tournament, the winner will need to navigate three three-minute bouts to claim the crown.

The quarter-final fixtures for the night were decided yesterday (Click HERE).

Bookies have installed pro novice/amateur legend Roy Sheahan as the pre-tournament favourite (Click HERE) – however, we all know to expect the unexpected in Irish boxing.

The fights will all be shown live on Irish terrestrial television via TG4 – (Click HERE for stream).

Follow our live text coverage of each and every one of the seven tournament fights below (keep hitting refresh to stay with our minute-by-minute, round-by-round updates):

10:35pm: What a tournament, a star is born in Roy Sheahan! Signing off now for the Irish light middleweight title fight between Jay Byrne and Craig O’Brien, going to be a cracker. Report up at final bell.

F Round 1: Fantastic shot selection from Roy Sheahan to start, putting on a clinic before stepping it up, turns Cullen, corners him, fires in volley after volley of unanswered shots – REF STEPS IN – TKO1 ROY SHESHAN! IRELAND’S LAST MAN STANDING.

10:28pm: Here we go.

10:18pm: Small break now for the final – it’s Roy Sheahan v Jack Cullen, it’s 3rd seed v 4th seed, Athy v Little Lever, and it’s LIVE on TG4

10:17pm: 29-27 x 3 for Cullen, good cards. Blaney tired in the second and one shot turned the fight on its head

SF2 Round 3: Blaney showing huge bravery but is getting lit up by shots from the longer Cullen who has found a beautiful rhythm. ‘The Ginger Ninja’ pushes to the end but, especially with the knockdown, this is Cullen’s.

SF2 Round 2: HUGE right hand from Cullen sends Blaney down, the Meath man shakes his head, rises, he’s on unsteady legs but makes it through. Massive round for Cullen.

SF2 Round 1: Blaney throwing and landing bombs, bullying Cullen. The English fighter digging in but there’s a big difference in strength. One huge hook comes in from Cullen but Blaney takes in on the chin and keeps marching forward. 

9:57pm: Now it’s time for the second semi-final where Chris Blaney takes on Jack Cullen. Will be very interesting. Winner fights Roy Sheahan.

9:54pm: It’s Sheahan! 30-27 and two 29-28s. He’s into the Final!

SF1 Round 3: Cagey again, lots of scrappy comings together. Could go either way. Gun to our head we’d say Sheahan for the cleaner work.

SF1 Round 2: Roy has found his range and scores some beautiful right-hand counters. McDonagh is enraged and looking to make it a scrap, big shot to end the round, the pair tangle, both find themselves on the canvas. It could be all on the last round.

SF1 Round 1: Cagey, very cagey. McDonagh slightly busier and looks much the bigger in there.

9:38pm: Time for semi-final #1 – Roy Sheahan v JJ McDonagh. Sheahan looked classy versus the rugged Vladimir Belujsky while McDonagh blasted Ger Healy out in a round.

9:31pm: 30-27 x3 to Jack Cullen who will go on to face Chris Blaney in the second semi. The pair spent some time sparring recently before Cullen entered the tournament.

QF4 Round 3: Quigley’s best round, Cullen looks tired. They trade throughout and we go to the bell.

QF4 Round 2: More success for Quigley in the second round, but Cullen still landing the greater number of shots. The Little Lever Meat Cleaver slowed slightly though, interesting third ahead.

QF4 Round 1: Cullen is teeing off on Quigley, but the Scouser is making him work. Quigley marked up under the right eye but continues to march forward undeterred.

9:14pm: Now onto our final quarter-final – Jack Cullen [9(3)-0] v Nick Quigley [15(3)-3(2)]

9:12pm: 30-26 to Roy Sheahan who now goes on to meet JJ McDonagh in the semis. Impressive display, but how much does he have left in the tank? Especially considering McDonagh had a quick first fight.

QF3 Round 3: Big shot to start the round from Sheahan who then looks to circle, making Belujsky miss wildly with right hands and coasts to the bell. What an introduction to Irish fans from Sheahan who has this in the bag.

QF3 Round 2: Belujsky lunging in and being caught with sharp counters. The Leesider is landing his fair share though and making Sheahan work – how much is this taking out of the Kildare fighter? Belujsky needs a knockout going into the final round.

QF3 Round 1: WAR. Sheahan starts sharp, peppering and reddening Belujsky’s face. The Slovak Rebel comes back with HEAVY shots that bother Sheahan who visits the canvas but it’s correctly ruled a slip. Sheahan comes back with huge shots of his own and a straight right puts Belujsky down hard. He rises, Sheahan goes for the finish, the bell goes. What. A. Round.

8:56pm: And now it’s Roy Sheahan [1(0)-0], the pre-tournament favourite, in with hard-hitting Cork super middle Vladimir Belujsky [2(2)-0-1].

8:49pm: After a short delay the scorecards read 30-27 x2 and an odd 30-26 in favour of Chris Blaney who progresses to the second semi-final.

QF2 Round 3: Jobburn is so game and keeps coming, but Blaney is landing heavy, quality shots including some delicious uppercuts. He should take this on the cards

QF2 Round 2: Busy start from Jobburn, but Blaney backs him up with some heavy shots.The English fighter is tough and catches Blaney on the chin towards the close. Very entertaining round.

QF2 Round 1: Blaney stiffens Jobburn’s legs early with a shot to the temple. The Potter comes back well but Blaney is much larger in there and is controlling the exchanges.

8:30pm: Straight into quarter number two – Navan’s Chris Blaney [9(3)-0] in versus Stoke-Athlone puncher Owen Jobburn.

QF1 Round 1: What a dramatic first fight. Healy down early but no knockdown ruled and McDonagh seems to have hurt his arm. The action resumes and they trade, Healy down hard, KO1 McDonagh and that should secure him the fastest KO bonus.

8:20pm: It’s time for the first quarter-final – first seed JJ McDonagh [15(7)-3(1)] in against Belfast veteran Ger Healy [7(0)-4(1)-1]

8:05pm: Ready to go here at the National Stadium. Have just had the untelevised undercard, the results of which can be found here.

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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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