Rohan Date given tough test for homecoming fight

Rohan Date [2(1)-0] makes his Irish return later this month, and the Waterford welter wont be presented with an easy touch on his homecoming.

Following two fights in the United Arab Emirates, the Dubai-based boxer will fight on the ‘Celtic Clash 2’ card at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday May 27th.

The former top amateur will face notably game Bulgarian journeyman Radoslav Mitev [8(2)-31(13)-1] over four rounds on his return to the home of Irish boxing.

It will be the fifth time that the Sofia scrapper has fought on these shores following a win over Michael Harvey, extremely competitive losses to Finbarr Eade and Crank Whitehouse, and a first round stoppage defeat against Phil Sutcliffe Jr.

Mitev has also been stopped by Belfast’s Anto Upton, but the Eastern European has upset the applecart before, outpointing Scottish champion Eddie Doyle in 2014.

Former St Paul’s amateur Date went pro last year, scoring a stunning knockout against Gerald Dah and a dominant points win over Stephen Okine.

Also featuring in just under two weeks time are Eric Donovan, Stephen Carroll, Sean Creagh, Jay Byrne, Gerard Whitehouse, Allan Phelan, Vladimir Belujsky, Carl McDonald, Lynn Harvey, as well as debutants John Joyce, Liam Gaynor, Regan Buckley, Johnny Corcoran, Stephen McAfee, and Keane McMahon.

Tickets for Celtic Clash 2 are priced at €15 (Under 15s), €30, €40, €45, and €55 (Premium), and are available from the boxers involved.

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Joe O’Neill and Gavan Casey speak to Jason Quigley on Episode 5 of The Irish Boxing Show: