IRISH BOXING REVIEW: 2011 EDITION IRISH BOXING REVIEW: 2011 EDITION STEVE WELLINGS Copyright 2010 Steve Wellings ISBN 978-1-4467-8990-2 CONTENTS The Beauty of Boxing ............................................................................1 National Boxing Awards........................................................................5 Bernard Dunne Retires ...........................................................................7 Irish-boxing.com is ten! .......................................................................11 The Fighting Irishmen..........................................................................16 Transitions: Amateur to Professional ...................................................21 Are Alphabet Titles the Scourge of Boxing? .......................................27 **The Year in Review: Articles** ......................................................32 Flyweight Conlan aiming for titles in 2010 – 9th January...................35 Magee heads to Denmark for Euro title shot – 11th January ................37 McDonagh prepares Magee for Larsen – 15th January ........................40 Belshaw's last chance – 19th January ...................................................42 Feature Article: Gerry Storey – 22nd January ......................................44 Martin Lindsay in full training – 29th January .....................................49 Brian Magee wins European title in Denmark – 30th January .............51 Hyland targets Dunne and Munroe – 2nd February ..............................52 Murray and Fagan shape up for big clash – 5th February ....................54 Murray halts Fagan to retain Irish lightweight belt – 13th February ....57 Peters thinks the Irish future is bright post-Dunne – 13th February .....60 Sinclair’s Prizefighter lifeline – 18th February ....................................62 Sweeney and Tims set to clash for Irish title – 25th February ..............65 Wilton takes aim at flyweight rivals – 10th March ...............................68 Feature Article: Martin Lindsay – 12th March .....................................70 vi American adventure for Haughian – 21st March ..................................74 Oisin Fagan quits the ring – 23rd March ..............................................77 Paul Hyland’s superb away win – 25th March .....................................78 Frampton immortalised in Midland mural – 26th March .....................80 Three's a crowd at flyweight as Farrell joins the party – 2nd April ......82 Wilton responds to Farrell – 10th April ................................................84 Casey continues climb – 10th April ......................................................86 Spike itching for ring return – 15th April .............................................88 Darren Corbett: “Herbie’s got nowhere to Hide” – 18th April .............89 Patrick Hyland keen on EU crack – 21st April .....................................92 Power puncher Greene goes pro – 23rd April .......................................94 Conlan in at the deep end – 23rd April .................................................96 Eastern Promises from heavyweight Chanturia – 29th April ...............98 Jamie: “I've got the Power” – 29th April ............................................101 Disappointment for Corbett in Prizefighter - 1st May ........................103 Paddy McDonagh set for Healy bout – 2nd May ................................105 Wilton wins Holiday Inn headliner – 10th May .................................107 Denny’s prospect Greene and keen – 11th May .................................112 Donnellan excited by professional debut – 11th May ........................114 Andy Lee vs Mamadou Thiam: Big Fight Preview – 14th May .........116 Limerick undercard preview – 14th May ............................................118 Thiam no match for Andy Lee in Limerick - 16th May .....................120 McCloskey’s ready for the big boys at light-welterweight – 15th May ....................................................................................................123 Haughian working on mind technology for Celtic shot – 15th May ..125 Colin Lynes: “No one pushed me as hard as McCloskey” – 15th May ....................................................................................................127 Waldron feels just champion – 19th May ...........................................129 vii JJ McDonagh returns in June – 19th May ..........................................131 Carl Frampton ready for King’s Hall debut – 20th May ....................133 Casey the surprise package for Prizefighter – 22nd May ....................135 Sykes retains title against brave O’Hara – 29th May .........................137 Prizefighter glory for ‘Big Bang’ Casey – 30th May .........................138 Andy Murray also features on King's Hall bill – 3rd June .................140 Crossover star Frampton to fulfill King’s Hall dream – 9th June .......142 McCloskey smashes Lauri to retain Euro belt – 12th June .................145 Haughian's Celtic title pain – 12th June ..............................................147 Talented trio impress King's Hall crowd – 12th June .........................149 “I got dragged into a fight,” admits McCloskey – 12th June ..............151 Lindsay out until September – 15th June ............................................153 Undefeated: Cork bill preview and predictions – 24th June ...............154 Duddy defeated by Mexican Chavez – 26th June ...............................157 Undefeated: Clean sweep in Cork – 27th June ...................................158 New Faces: Brian Cusack – 1st July ...................................................159 New Faces: Darren Cruise – 18th July ...............................................161 Frampton headlines the dawn of McGuigan's new era – 25th July ....163 Casey and Frampton on collision course – 26th July .........................166 Kelly faces Gavin in Birmingham – 5th August .................................168 Willie 'Big Bang' Casey beats Italian in Dublin – 7th August ............169 Fitzgerald and Byrne claim victories– 7th August .............................171 Woe for Waldron but Ireland's star lady wins - 7th August ...............173 Willie Casey aims big bang at big banger Kiko Martinez – 9th August ................................................................................................175 Frampton faces Voronin – 10th August ..............................................177 Dean Byrne reflects on his latest win – 11th August ..........................179 Boxing Belle - 15th August ................................................................181 viii Haughian returns against Dee Mitchell – 21st August .......................183 Michael Kelly: “I can beat Frankie Gavin” – 24th August .................185 ‘Storm’ Sweeney gets Wladimir Klitschko's help – 24th August.......187 Magee eyes the world, but Aramian is next – 25th August ................189 Lindsay stays busy with Kiilu test - 31st August ................................192 Magee beats Aramian: Now for the world title – 12th September .....193 Dublin undercard reports – 12th September .......................................195 Classy Carl lights up the Ulster Hall - 18th September ......................199 Macklin Reclaims Euro Crown & Gavin Lands First Belt - 19th September ..........................................................................................201 McGuigan excited by future plans – 19th September .........................202 Wins for Haughian and Conlan - 19th September ..............................204 McCloskey targets world titles after stopping Morrison - 3rd October ...............................................................................................206 Willie Thompson returns - 5th October ..............................................211 Prizefighter disappointment for McBride and Timlin - 9th October ..213 McCloskey wants Khan - 9th October ................................................214 Frampton faces Reid test in Belfast - 12th October ............................216 Feature Article: Michael Carruth – 14th October ...............................217 Fullerton and Fanconi – 17th October ................................................220 Gavin not in Belfast for a holiday - 18th October ..............................221 Fight preview: Willie Casey vs. Paul Hyland - 4th November ...........224 Euro Star: Title glory for Limerick hero Casey - 7th November ........227 Rogan heads up Limerick undercard - 7th November ........................229 Frampton focused on Celtic title showdown – 12th November .........233 Flyweight Conlan has a puncher’s chance – 12th November .............234 Willie Casey and Paul Hyland reflect – 15th November ....................236 Feature Article: Paul McCloskey – 18th November ...........................238 ix Murray and Hyland victorious in Castlebar - 21st November ............242 Kiko Martinez waiting for Willie Casey - 22nd November ................245 Rogan's back for European title – 26th November .............................247 Collins plans for big 2011 – 26th November ......................................249 Classy Carl claims Celtic crown - 4th December ...............................252 Debut date for Nellins - 10th December .............................................256 Bumper DolPhil show entertains Dublin crowd – 11th December .....258 Tolan eyes Jeffries upset - 12th December .........................................260 Lindsay