New promoter enters the Irish scene
A new promotional outfit is to join the Dublin scene in the near future.
Reigning BUI Celtic welterweight champion Jay Byrne, a self-managed fighter, is to enter the promotional side of the game and start running shows.
The popular pro, who eschewed the regular route of progression in favour of taking tough fights which led to a checkered record, is looking to add more fighters to his stable ahead of running his first show this Summer.
Byrne [6(2)-4(1)] challenged for the Irish light middleweight title last time out, losing to Craig O’Brien earlier this month, and is now down at welterweight chasing a title fight in his preferred class along with his new venture of promoting.
It’s not entirely new for the Loughlinstown 31-year-old who has run two semi-pro shows, one at the end of 2016 and one at the start of last year. These fight nights contributed to the development of a number of pros including BUI Celtic super featherweight champion Stephen McAfee [3(2)-0-1], Karl Kelly [1(0)-1(0)], James Cahill [2(0)-0], Dylan McDonagh [2(1)-0], Aiden Metcalfe [1(0)-0], Chris Scuvie [1(0)-0], Martin Quinn [2(1)-0], Manny Bique [0-3(2)], and the still-to-debut duo of Eddie Treacy and Kieran Kenny.
Back before these shows, Byrne had revealed his desire to develop into professional boxing promotion and will now make the move, stating that there will be “no more waiting around. We are currently looking at venues and dates to run our first show.”
“[A] date will be announced in the next few weeks.”
‘The Negotiator’ currently manages Monkstown super featherweight Kelly – who last month took a leaf out of Byrne’s book when he took on touted English prospect Lucas Ballingall in Belfast, losing an entertaining and competitive six-rounder.
Byrne is keen to sign new fighters but is promising no easy touches, adding that “any lads looking to go pro that want to be boxers and not binman beaters then let me know and I’ll sit and chat.”
“These boxers will have access to state of the art training facilities if required.”
The active fighter, who boxed seven times last year and returns on April 14th versus Jamesy Gorman, is open to working with the three promotional ventures currently operating in Dublin – the ‘Ireland’s Last Man Standing’ competition run by Red Corner Promotions and Assassin Boxing, SK Promotions, and the ‘Celtic Clash’ series put on by Boxing Ireland Promotions and Tony Davitt Promotions.
Byrne said that “I hope this move is welcomed by all promotional teams in Ireland as I’m coming willing to work with all you guys to bring the best [out]
“The future is bright.”
