Supporting Black Irish Boxers

Irish-Boxing.com is currently made up of two white Irish men.

We cannot ever fully understand the impact racism has on the lives of people of colour on this island. What we can do is to continually learn and help where we can.

While far from perfect, we would like to believe the Irish boxing community is largely an anti-racist one. However, we can always strive to do more.

Over here in our tiny corner of the internet we have below compiled a list of some black Irish boxers with links to their social media accounts and to videos and some of the best writing about them.

Follow the fighters, support them. Maybe most importantly, call out, challenge, and shut down any racism you ever see directed towards them.

Of course, Irish boxing has a big Eastern European presence and a greater connection to the Irish Traveller community than any other sport. These boxers, too, suffer racism. This piece is not ignoring or denying that, but is merely offering a platform and drawing some attention to our boxers of colour.

This is not an exhaustive list, and there are dozens and dozens more black boxers in gyms around the country, boxers we will hopefully interview and get to know in the coming years.

Check out 15 Black Irish boxers below.

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Caoimhin Agyarko
The Belfast light middleweight has been signed up by Frank Warren and is one of our best pro prospects. His recovery from a near-fatal stabbing in 2017 has been inspirational both in a sporting sense and in terms of the outspoken voice he has provided regarding knife crime and mental health.

Follow Caoimhin on Twitter and Instagram

READ: Agyarko opens up on his struggles with important mental health message

READ: Black Thunder on the horizon

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Prince Brady
The Dublin super bantam is also a talented rapper and another who overcame a near-death experience before turning pro. Not fought since 2018, hopefully will be back in the ring soon.

Follow Prince on Instagram and YouTube

WATCH: I got stabbed and put in a coma but now I’m back

READ: Introducing – Prince Brady

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Kelyn Cassidy
The Waterford middleweight is a two-time Irish U22 champion and international. A popular figure in the Déise, the pros could be an option down the line.

Follow Kelyn on Instagram

READ: Kelyn Cassidy proves progress

READ: I never wanted to feel like that again

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Christian Cekiso
The Portlaoise featherweight has been knocking on the door of the Irish Elite title for years and one senses that a split-decision will go his way eventually.

Follow Christian on Instagram

READ: Title-chasing Cekiso changes his luck

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Gabriel Dossen
An outstanding talent, the Galway middleweight won World and European bronze as a Youth. A knee injury has hindered his progress at Elite level but Dossen remains a massive Olympic hope.

Follow Gabriel on Twitter and Instagram

READ: Dossen aims for long journey to Olympic qualification

WATCH: Dossen after being crowned Senior Elite champion

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Chloé Gabriel
One of Irish boxing’s top prospects, Gabriel won European Junior (under-16) gold last summer. The Mulhuddart flyweight is still an underage boxer until the end of next year and is one to watch.

READ: Chloé Gabriel makes more history

READ: The Million Dollar Baby Mauritian

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Evelyn Igharo
The Clann Naofa light welter is the reigning Irish Elite light welterweight champion. Just 19, the rangy Louth boxer won European Youth silver in 2018 and is pound-for-pound probably Irish women’s boxing’s heaviest puncher.

Follow Evelyn on Instagram

READ: Evelyn Igharo represents the new Ireland – and she can go right to the top

READ: Evelyn Igharo speaks out on racism in Ireland

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Mosa Kambule
A rising actor – and Ninja Warrior contestant – Kambule has also rapidly improved as a boxer having picked it up to learn self defence. The Holy Trinity lightweight was a runner-up at the Ulster championships right before lockdown began.

Follow Mosa on Twitter and Instagram

READ: How boxing saved aspiring actor

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Francy Luzoho
The Dublin light welterweight has proven in just two fights that he would take on anyone. Provider of Irish boxing’s best ringwalks, Luzoho meshes his Congolese and Irish pride, dubbing himself Eachtrannach Éireannach.

Follow Francy on Instagram and Twitter

READ: I am giving them a night to remember

READ: Outsider Luzoho vows to be Ireland’s first black world champion

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Yannick Maseke
The light welter escaped from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Ireland and was housed in Direct Provision in Athlone. Having been granted asylum, Maseke is aiming to turn pro.

Follow Yannick on Instagram

READ: My dream is one day to be champion of the World

READ: Refugee hopes to fly flag for Ireland as professional boxer

‘My dream is one day to be champion of the world’ – new hope for boxer granted asylum | https://t.co/WOf0TrxLru pic.twitter.com/dOFX8dGIhv

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 3, 2020

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Moses Matovu
Belfast’s Black Mamba was one of the best journeymen on the British circuit during the 2010s. A much loved character, Matovu is also an actor and has had cameos in, among others, Game of Thrones and Line of Duty. Moses now runs his own personal training business which you can follow HERE.

Follow Moses on Instagram

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Tommy McCarthy
A top amateur and now a top pro, the Belfast cruiserweight won Commonwealth silver before agonisingly missing out on the Olympics then having his British title charge stalled. A sensational upset win in Italy last time out, however, has the ‘Mac Attack’ in the world title picture.

Follow Tommy on Twitter and Instagram

WATCH: Tommy McCarthy speaking about self-belief for THINK

READ: Tommy McCarthy name in the hat for World Title shot

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Kenny Okungbowa
A two-weight Irish Elite champion and a World University Championships bronze medallist. Charismatic outside the ring and ruthlessly effective inside it, the Athlone big man has been a staple of the Irish boxing scene over the last decade.

Follow Kenny on Instagram

READ: King Kenny gets his moment

READ: Okungbowa aims to add to collection following World bronze

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Mike Perez
Having escaped Cuba over a decade ago, ‘The Rebel’ has made Ireland and Cork his home. Following his tragic fight with Magomed Abdusalomov, Perez has managed to transform his life and come back from the brink. The cruiserweight remains a tough fight for anyone – if they’re brave enough to make the phone call.

Follow Mike on Instagram

READ: Mike Perez’s depths of drinking and depression

LISTEN: 12 Miles

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Chris Scuvie
The Celtic Warriors light heavyweight has yet to been able to build on his pro debut win but the Blanch man remains ready and waiting.

Follow Chris on Instagram and Twitter

READ: Introducing – Chris Scuvie

READ: No Excuses for Chris Scuvie

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Darren Sutherland (RIP)
The dearly departed Dazzler is a legend of Irish boxing. Following a pair of EU golds and a glorious Olympic bronze, Sutherland began a pro career that most believed would have ended in world titles before tragedy struck. Darren remains the only Irish person of colour to win an Olympic medal

WATCH: Remembering Darren Sutherland (PART 1) and (PART 2)

READ: Only the forgotten are truly dead

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In addition, below are some articles regarding Ireland’s history with major black boxing figures that also may be of interest.

Tom Molineaux – The black boxing pioneer who made home in 19th-century Ireland

When Muhammad Ali thrilled Ireland

Joe Frazier’s ill-fated singing tour of Ireland

Battling Siki’s shock defeat still a source of controversy

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You can donate to Black Pride Ireland HERE

You can donate to MASI HERE

You can follow a simple e-mail template to Irish government ministers regarding Direct Provision HERE