Looking for a stoppage
8 February 2010 – By Steve Wellings
On Saturday night at the National Stadium, Patrick Hyland will be looking to succeed where many have failed before him and stop Londoner Mickey Coveney.
Coveney has a misleading CV that bluntly displays a 9-9 record including losses in his last six contests. More detailed inspection will reveal that he has gone the distance with Derry Matthews, Paul Appleby, Stevie Bell, Jamie Arthur and Akaash Bhatia during that spell.
On his last visit to Ireland he extended Kevin O’Hara in Belfast. Suddenly the statistics don’t appear so disparaging.
Patrick has been helping Ricky Burns prepare for his upcoming WBO title challenge in Puerto Rico and is undeterred by Coveney’s tough nature and southpaw stance.
They [southpaws] typically tend to be stand up boxers but Coveney’s more of a pressure fighter so I won’t have to go looking for him,” admitted Hyland via press release, “so that will suit me and should make for a good fight.
Whatever happens I won’t be underestimating him, he’s been in with most of the top guys in the UK and doesn’t get any favours. I heard he was very unlucky to lose to Akaash Bhatia last time out and he’s pushed guys like Paul Appleby close so I’m not taking anything for granted.
On the night Coveney lost to O’Hara, the diminutive southpaw gave his all and stood up to some heavy blows to survive the course. The rangy Hyland is undefeated in 18 fights as a professional and it would be a massive upset if he was to lose. Patrick is set to enjoy a four inch height advantage and will no doubt implement his broomstick jab to keep Coveney at bay.
Two fights ago Pajo tamed African Abdu Tebazalwa in his native district of Tallaght to win the IBF International featherweight crown. He previously secured the Irish belt in 2008 when stopping Paul Griffin in three rounds in front of a raucous crowd at the same National Stadium venue that he returns to on Saturday.
If, as I believe, Patrick is the best of the three Hyland brothers he can start to punish Coveney in the middle rounds and force a stoppage late in the fight, or, if Mickey again stands firm, claim a wide points win.
