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November Preview – Full schedule for all Irish boxers

Winter may have arrived, but the Irish boxing scene is red hot

It’s been a long time since there were three fight cards on this island in the same month, but that’s exactly what’s in store for Irish fight fans in November.

Here we detail every Irish fighter in action this month.

Starting us off on November 6th in Dublin is the Tony Davitt-promoted show in the Red Cow Moran Hotel. Popular Wexford heavyweight Niall Kennedy [2(1)-0] tops the bill in a six rounder against the experienced Yavor Marinchev [8(4)-24(5)]. Support comes in the form of welterweight trio Ger Whitehouse [3(1)-0], Stephen Carroll [1(0)-0], and Matthew Wilton [11(3)-0] who face Radoslav Mitev [7(1)-22(10)], Asen Vasilev [14(5)-33(18)], and Aleksandar Chukaleiski [2(0)-6(2)].

There is also a home debut for MGM welter Sean Creagh [2(0)-0] and last, but certainly not least, there is the eagerly anticipated pro debut of flyweight Lynn Harvey. The Kilbarrack fighter takes on Ivana Yaneva [1(0)-8(5)].

The following night, November 7th, sees the return of MGM to the National Stadium. Following the successful ‘New Beginning’ show in July, the Boxnation cameras have returned for the ‘Second Coming’ show that will be again headlined by Belfast super flyweight Jamie Conlan [14(8)-0] who defends his WBO Inter Continental title.

Chief support comes from two All-Ireland grudge matches. Dubliner Dean Byrne [17(6)-5(2)-2] and Galway’s Peter McDonagh [24(3)-28(2)] clash for the Irish welterweight title after months of fighting talk, and Michael Sweeney [12(6)-3(2)-1] is aiming for revenge in his Celtic Nations cruiserweight title fight with Ian Tims [10(3)-3(2)].

Additional support comes from a posse of Dublin stars with lightweight duo Declan Geraghty [9(2)-1(0)] and Jamie Kavanagh [19(9)-1(1)-1], heavyweight Sean Turner [6(4)-0] heavyweight, cruiserweight David Maguire [4(1)-0], super middleweight Ciaran Mullen [1(0)-0], as well as Belfast super featherweight Ciaran McVarnock [4(0)-0-1].

The card also features two Frank Warren boxers – middleweight Jamie Cox [19(11)-0] who faces Ferenc Albert [20(9)-7(3)] for the WBO European title, and Indian superstar-in-waiting Vijender Singh [1(1)-0] who tackles English middleweight Dean Gillen [2(0)-0].

On the same night at London’s York Hall, Belfast light welterweight Alec Bazza [0(0)-12(2)-1] – fresh from almost causing an upset this weekend – will help prospect Jamie Arlain [2(2)-0] get the rounds in.

On November 14th, in the exotic climbs of Estonia, Belfast duo James Fryers [10(3)-0] and James Tennyson [14(11)-1(1)] fight on an EST Boxing Promotions card. The Mark Dunlop-promoted pair will offer support to the Robert Helenius-Dennis Bakhtov heavyweight clash, and can be seen on online PPV.

On the same night in Bristol there promises to be some furious action with heavyweights Hughie Fury [16(8)-0] and
Young Fury [5(3)-1(0)] boxing at the City Academy Sports Centre.

November 20th sees the final Irish card of the month, with the Cyclone Promotions’All on the Line’ show at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall. Top of the bill sees Ulster middleweights Conrad Cummings [7(3)-0] and Alfredo Meli [11(3)-0] battle for the BBBoC Celtic middleweight title Ulster. The co-main event sees Belfast featherweight Marco McCullough [13(9)-2(2)] in a make-or-break fight with Scotland’s Jon Slowey [19(0)-2(0)].

Further support comes from lightweight Paul Hyland Jr [8(2)-0], and welterweight pair Paddy Gallagher [8(4)-2(0)] and Matt Wilton.

There is huge Irish interest on November 21st at the York Hall. The Goodwin Promotions show – ‘The Cartel’ – is headlined by Belfast-raised light middleweight Sonny Upton [9(5)-2(1)] who faces Ryan Toms [14(8)-11(5)-2] in an English title eliminator. Chief support comes from title-chasing Galway welterweight John O’Donnell [29(11)-2(1)].

The card also sees the Goodwin debut of Derry featherweight Tyrone McCullagh [1(1)-0], as well as further support from light middleweight Pauly Upton [10(1)-0] in an eight rounder, and Luton-born Yellow-Belly Michael Devine [13(4)-4(2)-1].

Additionally there is something of an Irish derby between Bangor welterweight Casey Blair [3(0)-1(0)] and Portsmouth-born, Belfast-based Michael McKinson [6(1)-0], as well as the ever-present Northern journeymen Alec Bazza and Moses Matovu [5(0)-63(7)-4] who face London southpaw Michael Peart [2(0)-0] and debutant Mark Little respectively.

There is heavyweight World title action on November 28th in Duesseldorf, Germany, with Tyson Fury [24(18)-0] taking on Wladimir Klitschko [64(53)-3(3)] at the ESPRIT Arena. The Ukranian’s WBA, IBF, and WBO belts are on the line, and many believe the former Irish heavyweight champion can cause a shock.

On the undercard, Tyson’s cousin, Hughie, is scheduled to face Nicolai Firtha [21(8)-11(5)-1].

On the same day, on the other side of the World, Dubliner Darragh Foley [7(5)-1(0)] challenges Miles Zalewski [5(3)-0] for the Australian lightweight title in Queensland.

The month is rounded out on Sunday November 29th in Leeds on a Malta Boxing Commission show. Here popular journeyman Marty Kayes [1(0)-17(3)] takes on Luke Junior [0-1(0)], and Mayo cruiserweight John Waldron [5(2)-12(7)] faces Jody Meikle [10(2)-56(3)-3].

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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