Opponent Scout Report: October 7th-8th

It’s a busy weekend for Irish fighters with the return of boxing to these shores. With just the third show of the year looming, we take a look at the men who will be in the opposite corner on Friday and Saturday.

Friday October 7th
Greenbank Sports Academy, Liverpool
Phil Sutcliffe Jr [10(7)-1(0)] – Light Welterweight
Succo faces Lithuanian Edvinas Puplauskas [3(2)-3(0)] over six rounds.
– Record: Busy this year, gave Lewis Benson a tough fight and ran RP Carr very close. Last month knocked out prospect Joe Wood.
– Style: A 6’2″ welter/light middle. Nice jab but tends to jump in with the big right. Quite aggressive. Decent defensive.
– Video: A four-round (36:40) loss to Serge Ambomo last month. 
– Verdict: A physically large opponent for Sutcliffe who should be able to withstand his power for a few rounds.
An okay opponent.

JJ Metcalf [13(6)-0] – Light Middleweight
Kid Shamrock tops the bill against Cameroonian Serge Ambomo [5(2)-0] over eight rounds.
– Record: A 2012 Olympian. Based in Sheffield now after running away from the Olympic Village. Holds two good wins over Jerome Wright, the second of which came in near-tragic circumstances.
– Style: Hands down, with a slippery style, throws from odd angles and is quite explosive.
– Video: A four-round (40:36) win over Edvinas Puplauskas last month.
– Verdict: The toughest fight of Metcalf’s career so far
A good opponent

A La Carte Pavilion, Tampa, Florida
Connor Coyle – Light Middleweight
2014 Commonwealth bronze medalist Coyle makes his debut against a to-be-confirmed opponent.

Saturday October 8th
Europa Hotel, Belfast
Paul Hyland Jr [12(4)-0] – Lightweight
Hylo faces Nicaraguan late replacement Nelson Altamirano [10(6)-7(4)-2] over eight rounds.
– Record: Unimpressive looking ledger hides some good competitive wins in Nicaragua over domestic rivals.
– Style: Rangey and uses his size to his advantage with a style based almost exclusively on his jab with the occasional straight right.
– Video: An eighth round stoppage win over David Acevedo, avenging a previous loss.
– Verdict: All things considered, a brilliant late replacement for Hyland, but obviously not the step up that Felix Lora would have been.
An okay opponent.

Tyrone McCullagh [4(3)-0] – Featherweight
White Chocolate takes on Nicaraguan Edwin Tellez [11(5)-25(3)-5] over six rounds.
– Record: Has gone the distance with Stephane Jamoye (twice), and Stuart Hall. Lasted until the fifth in a fight with Josh Warrington
– Style: Switch hits. Likes to trade inside. Very good chin.
– Video: His fifth round stoppage loss to Josh Warrington
– Verdict: The best opponent of McCullagh’s career so far.
A good opponent.

Ian Tims [13(3)-3(1)] – Cruiserweight
The Tank is up against Lithuanian former opponent Remigijus Ziausys [20(10)-68(2)-2] over six rounds.
– Record: Faced a who’s who of big cruiser and heavyweight names including Stephen Simmons, Craig Kennedy, Robert Helenius, Dereck Chisora, Grigory Drozd, Dillian Whyte, Youri Kalenga, Sam Sexton, Krzysztof Glowacki, Ian Lewison, and Mariusz Wach.
– Style: Doesn’t stop walking forward and trying to place the forehead on the chest and go to the body. Tight guard, hard to hit clean.
– Video: A 54:60 points loss to Craig Kennedy 
– Verdict: A good rust-shaker of a fight for Timsey following 11 months out.
A good opponent.

Feargal McCrory [2(1)-0] – Lightweight
Coalisland’s McCrory fights Bulgarian Ivailo Boyanov [2(0)-5(3)-1] over four rounds
– Record: Stopped in one this year by Conor Benn, but also upset Andrew Joicey over six.
– Style: Unorthodox. Throws dangerous counters from a defensive shell.
– Video: His first round loss to Conor Benn.
– Verdict: A decent test for McCrory.
A good opponent.

Jay Byrne [1(1)-0] – Super Middleweight
Dublin’s Byrne faces Bognor Regis journeyman Liam Griffiths [4(0)-66(3)-1] over four rounds.
– Record: A staple opponent for prospects. Has fought and gone the distance with Ultra-durable, Griffiths has gone the distance with Matt Wilton (twice), Casey Blair (twice), Gary Corcoran, Ger Healy, Matty Mainwaring, Paddy Gallagher, Peter McDonagh, Willie Thompson, Terry Maughan, and JJ Metcalf.
– Style: Rough and tough. Holds on for dear life at times. Very very awkward.
– Video: A 2014 points (36:40) loss to Adam Jones.
– Verdict: The perfect early-career opponent.
A good opponent.

Carl McDonald [debut] – Super Bantamweight
Dubliner McDonald makes his bow against Poland’s Kamil Jaworek [3(1)-2(1)] over four rounds.
– Record: Went the distance with French starlet Georges Leroy, while he was stopped in the third by Michael Ramabeletsa on his only other visit to Ireland or Britain.
– Style: Cagey southpaw. Doesn’t throw much. Dangerous with the head.
– Video: His third round stoppage loss to Ramabeletsa.
– Verdict: Better than the average debut opponent.
A good opponent.

The Lodge, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Jimmy Kelleher [1(1)-0] – Middleweight
Kelleher faces a to-be-confirmed opponent.