Sutcliffe leads the way in Dublin with points win
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Wins for O’Brien, Kennedy and Whitehouse in Dublin
There were wins for three Irish boxers earlier this evening at the Red Cow Hotel. Craig O’Brien opened the show with a 40-36 victory over Bulgaria’s Asen Vasilev. Light-middleweight O’Brien made his size and reach advantages work for the most part and peppered his opponent’s body with well-timed flurries. Podgy Vasilev, a well-travelled veteran, used his ring smarts to tie and smother and both men tired slightly as the bout wore on.
Best super-bantamweights on a mega-fight collision course
Photograph: ESPN
Guillermo Rigondeaux and Carl Frampton are by general consensus the two best super-bantamweights in the world and a buzz is slowly building around a potential unification bout. Rigondeaux’s manager Gary Hyde has made it clear that he wants either Frampton or Scott Quigg now that a potential Leo Santa Cruz fight has been scuppered by the WBC champion’s loyalty to Al Haymon’s career plan. Frampton’s team are averting their gaze towards Quigg but the Rigondeaux fight must surely be on the radar at some point.
Shane McGuigan puts Quigg and Donaire on the Frampton hit list
Shane McGuigan reckons that Carl Frampton can dispatch any of the title holders at the 122lb weight class. In fact, Frampton’s trainer, who has adapted seamlessly to training at world level, has been saying this for a while and now will be the perfect time to prove it.
Tyrone McKenna wins Belfast debut after world-class stateside sparring
Tyrone McKenna is back boxing in Belfast and ready to take the domestic scene by storm. Following five successful bouts in America the promising welterweight has returned home to be closer to his family and found his way on to Mark Dunlop’s February 7 Devenish card. After four rounds of honest toil, McKenna walked away with a 40-37 victory over Teodor Stefanov and the first step on the road to titles was taken in a competent manner.
Another win for Paul Hyland Jnr who has Irish title on his radar
Paul Hyland Jnr got another solid six rounds under his belt at the Devenish Complex recently and now the Belfast boxer is closing in on an Irish title shot. Paul was thorough and controlled during his 60-54 domination of Yordan Vasilev and admitted his hands were aching post-fight due to the excessive hurt he had piled on poor Yordan.
A win’s a win for frustrated Ciaran McVarnock
Purposefully striding into the ring amidst a cacophony of cheers and adulation Ciaran McVarnock was relishing his Belfast debut. After all, the 22-year-old had been eager to return home and display his skills to a burgeoning fan base after winning two bouts across the water. Following a bruising six-twos against Lithuanian survivor Aivaras Balsys, Ciaran moved his fledgling record to 3-0 by virtue of a 60-54 success on Hugh Russell Jnr’s Scorecard. The youngster later revealed, however, that he was not happy with his overall performance.
Tennyson has British title in his sights after Devenish demolition
James Tennyson will box for the Celtic title on March 28
James Tennyson returned with a bang on Saturday, February 7 when the promising featherweight blitzed Simas Volosinas in two rounds. Bigger tests will certainly come for James but after an unfortunate nine-month hiatus the 21-year-old was just glad to be back in the ring and exciting his loyal following.
Darren looking to hit ‘Cruise control’
Roscommon stylist Darren Cruise looks to push on to bigger things on Saturday night at the Devenish Complex, Belfast as part of Mark Dunlop’s ‘Stand & Deliver’ card.
Ciaran McVarnock vows to steal the show on February 7