Sunday Life Home > Sport      Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

Boxing: Corbett Eamonn to lift crown

By Mark Dempsey

20 November 2005

 

AMID a blazing row which postponed the draw for the Smithwick's Ulster senior championships, Eamonn Corbett arrived to announce his intention to upset the odds.

Corbett, just turned 17, has entered at middleweight and believes that despite his inexperience he can rise to the occasion and take the title from Eamonn O'Kane.

Corbett only returned to action last week following recovery from a damaged hand, but the European cadet silver medallist is feeling confident about winning the senior title and booking his place in the team for the Commonwealth Games, at O'Kane's expense.

"I know that to win the title I will have to beat O'Kane and if I didn't think I could then I wouldn't have entered," said Eamonn.

"I have won Four Nations gold, a European silver and a Multi Nations gold so I think I have enough experience behind me."

The championships got off to a bad start yesterday morning when the Ulster Council's Medical Registrar Paul McMahon became embroiled in a row with Holy Trinity coaches Michael and Harry Hawkins over super-heavyweight Chris McClung.

Ulster Council treasurer Jack Monaghan immediately postponed the draw as the dispute raged over the eligibility of McClung, who holds a Scottish medical record but not an Irish medical record book.

McMahon refused to allow McClung, from Drumbeg, to enter because he had not been medically registered with the Irish ABA, though he had arrived with a Scottish medical card and been passed in the pre-tournament check-up by Dr Martin Donnelly.

McClung, who had boxed with his Scottish medical card two years ago in the Ulster Seniors, said he hoped the matter could be resolved.

Medical Registrar McMahon insisted: "My understanding of the rule is that you need an Irish medical card to box in the Ulster Seniors. How else could we keep track of a boxer's record. The problem is that in theory a boxer could box here, get knocked out and because it wasn't recorded go back to Scotland and box two days later."

Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games coach Michael Hawkins said: "I can't understand why such a fuss has been made about this. Boxers fight all over the world with just the one medical card."

The championships start on Tuesday night.

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Boxing - Red Tape Tangles Up Trinity Pair   Courtesy of Newsletter

By Denis O'Hara

Monday 21st November 2005

 

Brian Gillen, a former Ulster and Irish amateur bantamweight champion, now living in Wales, has not been accepted as an entry for the Smithwick's Ulster championships that begin with opening contests tomorrow at the Dock Workers Club in Belfast.

There was a fistic furore during the weekend weigh-ins at the same venue, because Gillen's name was listed as an entry, yet the boxer did not appear on the scales.

A hullabaloo ensued, because Gillen, who normally fights out of the Belfast Holy Trinity Club, did not comply with the criteria required to enter a championship that is considered the final stepping stone to select seven boxers for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next March.

It went to formal consideration, the draw for the Smithwick's tournament delayed as Ulster Council officials went into a huddle.

There was also some dispute over the eligibility of Scotlandborn super-heavyweight Chris McClung, also boxing out of Belfast's Holy Trinity Club.

The 23-year-old did not have an Irish IABA medical card.

Jackie Monaghan, Ulster IABA Treasurer, said: "We had a circular out telling about the championships. It says you are permitted to weigh-in at any one of three locations - the Dock Workers club, Coalisland, and at the Ring Club. "All weigh-ins are supervised by members of the Ulster Council. However, we have in the past made exceptions - allowed anyone on boxing duty with Ireland, and such representative situations, to enter the championships .

"Weigh-ins in such cases would be accepted, and of course such a boxer would have to weigh-in again on the day of the contests. "The lad Gillen did not present himself, and it was decided if he was able to come across from Wales to box in the championships, he should be able to come across and attend the weighins for the Smithwick's Ulster Seniors.

"As far as the question over the eligibility of the Scottish lad Chris McClung is concerned, he has the opportunity to get an Irish IABA Medical Card.

"The Doctor who examined him at the weigh-ins was willing to fill in the relevant application for the proper medical card. The lad has been about for a while, and he stays on the entry list - and the draw. His position is obviously contingent with getting an Irish medical card."

McClung is scheduled to meet 30-year-old Tony Smith of the Ring club in tomorrow's quarterfinals.

The other big news from the weigh-ins was the surprise entry of Irish international heavyweight Alan Reynolds of Sligo.

The 28-year-old regular national champion makes a debut in the Ulsters, and will meet Shane Curran of Holy Trinity in Wednesday's quarter-finals.

The reason why the six-footer, from the St Joseph's Club, Sligo, has entered is because he is presently working in Belfast - and is now fighting out of the Belfast Dockers club, and coached by Olympian Paddy Fitzsimons.

 

Reynolds, who participated in the World Senior amateur championships when held at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast, is also a member of the IABA's elite panel of punchers. Alan's unquestionable class and experience may prove too hot to handle for the other heavyweight hopefuls.

Last year's Super-heavyweight champion, Cathal McMonagle, also of Holy Trinity, has slimmed down to the heavy grade - and opens in a quarter-final match on Wednesday against Damien Ramsey of Ligoniel.

Handed the light-flyweight title without having to throw a punch is excellent 18-year-old prospect and title-holder Paddy Barnes of the Belfast Holy Family club.

The semi-finals are listed for Friday at the Dock Workers Club, and the finals at the Ulster Hall on Thursday December 1.

 

Tomorrow's programme: Light (quarterfinals): N Monteith (Dockers) v D McComb (H Trinity), M Morris (Gleann) v P Magee (Ligoniel); Lightheavy (quarter-finals): P Smith (Keady) v C Crossan (Immaculata) T Donnelly (Mark Heagney Club) v L Kelleher (Cooneen, Fivemiletown) D Carron (H Family) v P Moffatt (Abbey); Heavy: Preliminary bout-M Mallon (Newry) v S O'Hagan (Bishop Kelly, Omagh); Superheavy (quarterfinal): T Smith (Ring) v C McClung (H Trinity).

 

 

Belfast Telegraph Home > Sport > General      Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

Boxing: Teen star Crossan's handed tough test

By David Kelly

21 November 2005

 

Ciaran Crossan has been handed an immediate acid test when he makes his debut in the Smithwick's Ulster Senior championships tomorrow night.

The draw for the championships was made yesterday and Holy Trinity heavyweight Chris McClung has been allowed to box, despite initially being refused entry by the Ulster Council's Medical Registrar Paul McMahon due to a dispute over his medical card.

A furious row erupted between McMahon and Holy Trinity coaches Michael and Harry Hawkins, leading to the postponement of the draw but McClung will now take on Tony Smith of Ring tomorrow night in the quarter-finals.

One man who has been excluded is former bantamweight champion Brian Gillen, who had weighed in across the water.

Light-heavyweight prospect Crossan has been matched with former champion Patrick Smyth.

Having claimed the Ulster intermediate title it seemed that Crossan would bid for the Irish intermediate crown but instead he returns to the Dockers Club aiming to secure a place in Northern Ireland's Commonwealth Games team.

"I've only just turned 17 so if I win I'll be the youngest since Barry McGuigan to win an Ulster senior title and then hopefully get picked for the Games," said Crossan.

 

The contest of the night tomorrow evening could well be the lightweight clash between this year's Antrim intermediate champion Patrick Magee and the Ulster champion Mark Morris of Gleann.

In the other quarter-final veteran former Irish and Ulster senior champion Noel Monteith makes another comeback as he faces Holy Trinity's David McComb.

Light-fly Patrick Barnes, fly Carl Frampton, bantam Shaun McKim, feather Barry McCafferty and light-welter Michael McLaughlin have all received byes to their respective finals on December 1 at the Ulster Hall.

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Boxing - Injury Blow For Hamill   Courtesy of Newsletter

By Denis O'Hara

Tuesday 22nd November 2005

 

Dermot Hamill, the 25-year-old Ulster amateur light-welterweight champion from Ballymena All Saints Youth Club, is unable to defend the Smithwick's crown because of foot damage, but seeks a showdown with his successor after the finals at the Ulster Hall on December 1.

Once his foot injury heals, Hamill will push for a box-off to decide one of the seven places on offer in the Northern Ireland team for the Commonwealth Games at Melbourne in March.

Gerry 'Ducksy' Hamill, the classy box-fighter's 50-year-old coach and uncle - and more significantly a lightweight gold medal winning hero from the 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games, said: "The foot injury happened four weeks ago, and the damage has affected his mobility.

"That is why he couldn't-defend his title, unable to go into the draw for this week's quarter finals and semi-finals at the Dock Worker's Club. "You could see the disadvantage he was at during sparring.

"He slowed up, and was trading punches in sparring. That is not his way of doing things in the ring.

"Dr Sean Donnelly was called in and sent him for an X-ray. Dermot was told to rest. The boy was champing at the bit to defend the Ulster title.

"I informed Ulster Council President Pat McCrory of the situation. And, I am hoping whoever wins the light-welterweight title on December 1 should then be asked to meet Dermot in a box-off to determine who goes to the Commonwealth Games. "For two years inarow, Dermot Hamill has been the champion, and remains so - right up until this season's final at the Ulster Hall.

"They have to send the best men to the Games, and I believe Dermot Hamill to be that man in the light-welterweight division."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belfast Telegraph Home > Sport > General      Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

Boxing: Kerr braced for title bid

By David Kelly

22 November 2005

 

Holy Trinity's Brian Kerr will be hoping it is not a case of déjà vu when he meets Scott Jordan in the quarter-finals of the Smithwick's Ulster Senior championships.

Last year, at the same stage, Kerr suffered a twisted knee in the middle of their contest and Jordan eventually went on to lose in the final.

"Maybe I can go one better this time," said Jordan, who meets Kerr in the quarter-finals tomorrow night.

As for former champion Kerr, who is waiting seven years for a cruciate operation, he will be wearing a brace on his knee in order to allow him to compete.

"The brace was a little difficult to get used to but once I'm sparring or boxing I don't notice it. I need it because basically my knee just falls out of place. Hopefully I don't have to go through what happened last year," said Kerr.

The championships start tonight with many looking forward to seeing how 17-year-old Ciaran Crossan handles former Ulster senior champion Patrick Smyth in their quarter-final clash.

Crossan, who won the Ulster intermediate title a fortnight ago, will be bidding to overcome the chasm in experience and many feel he is ready to do just that.

Noel Monteith of Dockers will be hoping to roll back the years when he faces David McComb of Holy Trinity in the lightweight quarter-finals.

Contests (8pm)

Heavyweight: Martin Mallon (SH Newry) v Shane O'Hagan (Bishop Kelly); Tony Smith (Ring) v Chris McClung (Holy Trinity).

Lightweight: Noel Monteith (Dockers) v David McComb (Holy Trinity); Mark Morris (Gleann) v Patrick Magee (Ligoneil).

Light-heavyweight: Patrick Smyth (Ready) v Ciaran Crossan (Immaculata); Tommy Donnelly (Mark Heagney) v Liam Kellegher (Cooneen); Damian Carroll (Holy Family) v Paul Moffett (Abbey).

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Belfast Telegraph Home > Sport > General      Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

Boxing: Finnegan on fire in debut

By David Kelly

24 November 2005

 

Eamonn Finnegan strolled into the bantamweight final of the Smithwick's Ulster senior championships in the Dockers Club last night.

Finnegan of Oliver Plunkett was making his senior debut after winning the Ulster Intermediate title and he duly delivered a sparkling performance.

Finnegan outpointed John Cooley of St Joseph's, Derry 21-12 with a punch perfect display.

Cooley, as usual, came out full throttle and it took 17-year-old Finnegan a round to settle but once he did the punches flowed.

Indeed, Finnegan picked his punches with fine timing and accuracy against the aggressive Derry man.

Now the Belfast teenager will aim to take the title from Abbey's Shaun McKim, who will be bidding for his fourth Ulster title, in next Thursday night's final.

TJ Hamill and Brian Kerr are set for a third meeting at senior level when they clash in tomorrow night's welterweight semi-finals.

Kerr took revenge on Scott Jordan, who defeated him last year when he suffered a knee injury, which now requires the Holy Trinity ABC man to wear a brace.

After outpointing Jordan 15-12, Kerr was quickly looking ahead to his meeting with former champion Hamill.

"That's the fight I have been wanting for some time. He beat me in the final two years ago and before that in the semi-finals. I can't wait, I want to make sure I get him this time," said Kerr, who admitted to feeling a little nervous before the contest.

"Because of what happened last year in the fight with Scott I was bound to be a little concerned in case the knee popped out but it was fine, it didn't bother me and I'm just glad to get the win and get rid of any ring rust."

Hamill, of All Saints, looked as sharp as I have seen him in a couple of years as he outscored William McLaughlin of Illies 19-13.

Hamill set a fast pace from the first bell, using plenty of movement to slip McLaughlin's jab and score with his fast, short hooks.

Hamill, unable to enter last year due to illness, was warned in the second after a low blow felled McLaughlin but that was the only blip on a dominant performance.

In the other welterweight quarter-final, Shane McKeown demonstrated why he will be a threat to defending champion Thomas Duddy tomorrow evening.

McKeown met the relentless assaults of Dockers lad Ryan Green with superb footwork and clinical combination punching, winning 39-11.

The Sacred Heart Newry lad was always in control but credit to Green as he never stopped throwing leather and the final round of toe-to-toe action was a fine spectacle.

Former Irish heavyweight champion Alan Reynolds, a surprise entrant, moved through to the semi-finals after an entertaining battle with Shane Curran.

Curran gave one of the best performances of his career, surprising the former Irish champion with his fast hands and sharp footwork and it wasn't until the middle of the third onwards that Reynolds made the victory decisive.

Newry's Martin Mallon had to take a count in the third round before going through to the last four of the heavyweights, defeating David Snaith of Eastside 34-8.

Other results:

91kg: Cathal McMonagle (Holy Trinity) bt Damien Ramsey (Ligoniel) rsco3; John Sweeney (Dungloe) bt Finbar Doran (Phoenix) rsco3

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Belfast Telegraph Home > Sport > General      Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

Boxing: Classy Lindberg rocks Conlon

By Jack Magowan
jmagowan@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

26 November 2005

 

BOXING is like chess - strategy is everything, as the Immaculata club's brainy young flyweight, Ryan Lindberg, was quick to demonstrate in a packed Dockers' Club last night.

Still only 17, this Nugget Nugent prodigy lost in an international vest against Germany three weeks ago, but showed no mental cobwebs to catapult himself into next Thursday's finals of the Smithwick's Senior championships.

It was by a 34-15 margin that Lindberg beat Bosco's Jamie Conlon in the semis.

"The kid is bubbling with confidence," grinned trainer Nugent.

"But it's the Irish champion, Carl Frampton, whom he meets for the title, and that's a tough hurdle. It could be the fight of the night at the Ulster Hall." Ciaran Crossan has been favourite for light-heavyweight honours since the tournament began, and hit hard and often for a splendid victory over defending champion, Stephen Martin.

On this form, Crossan looks Commonwealth Games material, but Damien Carroll, from Holy Family, may have something to say about that.

Kevin Doherty, from Charlie Nash's club in Londonderry, and southpaw veteran, Noel Monteith, will dispute the lightweight final, an intriguing prospect.

Noel may have looked sluggish early on against right-hand-happy Mark Morris (Gleann) but won comfortably, even if the scoring (24-9) flattered him.

Results:

Flyweight ? Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata) beat Jamie Conlon (Belfast Bosco) 34-15.

Feather ? Benny Harkin (Twin Towns, Donegal) beat Peter Graham (Clonard) 13-12.

Lightweight ? Kevin Doherty (Ring) beat Andrew Angus (Eastside) 19-11, and Noel Monteith (Dockers) beat Mark Morris (Gleann) 24-4.

Light-welter ? David Nevin (Cavan) beat Owen Gribben (Halls Mill) 22-18.

Welter ? Thomas Hamill (All Saints) beat Brian Kerr (Holy Trinity) 27-8, and Thomas Duddy (Ring) beat Shane McKeown (Sacred Heart, Newry) 21-17.

Middle ? Eamon O'Kane (St Canices) beat Robert Cardwell (Dockers) 25-4, and Eamon Corbett (S Heart, Belfast) 21-7.

Light-heavy ? Ciaran Crossan (Immaculata) beat Stephen Martin (Bosco Belfast) 24-11, and Damien Carroll (Holy Family) beat Tommy Donnelly (Mark Heagney) 21-13.

Heavy ? Alan Reynolds (Dockers) beat Cathan McMonagle (Holy Trinity) 19-13, and Martin Mellon (S Heart, Newry) beat John Sweeney (Dungloe) 15-11.

Super-heavy ? Conall Carmichael (holy Trinity) beat Scott Belshaw (Lisburn) 18-11, and Kallum King (Newcastle) beat Chris McClung (Holy Trinity) 16-13.

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Sunday Life Home > Sport      Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

Boxing: Frampton fancies his chances

By Mark Dempsey

27 November 2005

CARL Frampton and Ryan Lindberg are set to produce a classic flyweight encounter at the Ulster Hall on finals night of the Smithwick's Ulster Senior championships.

Frampton, Ireland's number one, warmed up for his final assault by winning gold at the multi-nations tournament in Ballybunion with victory over Welshman Christopher Griffiths on Friday night.

"That's his second multi-nations gold of the season and he is in great form and feeling very confident," said Frampton's coach Billy McKee ahead of Thursday's big clash.

While Frampton was taking gold, back in Belfast at the seniors semi-finals, on the same night, Immaculata lad Lindberg overcame Jamie Conlon of St John Bosco.

And Lindberg, whose great grandfather came from Germany, insists that he will spring a surprise and book the coveted place on the Northern Ireland Games team for Melbourne.

"Beating Conlon, an Ulster champion, has given me a big boost, particularly because I won so well ? 34-15 says a lot about my performance," said Lindberg, who has already claimed Antrim and Ulster intermediate titles this season.

"I can't wait for the chance to come and I really believe that I'll be ready to go and beat Frampton. I'll get great sparring with Michael Mongan and Alfredo Meli and that will have me in shape to win the title."

Lindberg will be joined by two other 17-year-olds as his clubmate Ciaran Crossan faces Damien Carroll of Holy Family for the light-heavyweight crown.

Crossan, the sensation of the championships so far, should land the title and book his place on the team for Melbourne.

Having defeated last year's heavyweight champion Patrick Smyth ? nine years his senior ? he then dethroned last year's light-heavy champion in emphatic fashion, 24-11.

"I know that I can go all the way. My confidence is growing and growing and I can't wait to box in the Ulster Hall," said Crossan.

Belfast lad Corbett is another young man brimming with confidence but he will have a very hard task trying to wrench the middleweight title away from champion Eamonn O'Kane.

O'Kane feels that he has improved greatly over the past 18 months and has his sights on as medal in Melbourne, while Corbett will be having only his second senior conest.

But European Cadet silver medallist Corbett insists: "I wouldn't have entered if I didn't think that I could go all the way and defeat O'Kane."

At welterweight TJ Hamill, unable to box last year due to illness, will bid to claim back the title when he meets Derry's Thomas Duddy.

Duddy's clubmate Kevin Doherty meets veteran and former champion Noel Monteith in the lightweight decider.

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Boxing - Games Places At Stake   Courtesy of Newsletter

By Denis O'Hara

Wednesday 30th November 2005

 

Ulster IABA Council officials will hold a special pow-wow 24 hours after tomorrow night's Smithwick's Ulster senior boxing finals to decide the seven fighters who will be sent to contest the Commonwealth Games at Melbourne in March.

All but two of the places in the Northern Ireland team are set to be filled during Friday's special meeting at the Dock Workers' Club, with box-offs likely to decide the bantamweight and light-welterweight representatives.

Brian Gillen, the Wales-based bantamweight champion of two years ago and also an Irish champion and international from the Belfast Holy Trinity club, has asked for a showdown with the new champion - either defending champion Shaun McKim of Abbey, Bangor, or the Belfast Plunkett's club teenager Eamonn Finnegan.

It is the same situation at light-welterweight. Dermot Hamill of Ballymena, champion for the past two seasons, is unable to defend the title because of foot damage. He seeks a winner-take-all punch-up with either David Nevin (Cavan) or Holy Trinity's Donegal-born Michael McLaughlin.

Ulster Council president Pat McCrory said: "We've had official requests from Gillen's Holy Trinity club and Hamill's All Saints club to be offered box-offs against the champions crowned at the respective weights from Thursday night's Smithwick's finals at the Ulster Hall.

"I feel if box-offs are to be scheduled they would have to be completed before Christmas. Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council officials will not want a delay until New Year.

"The Games Council will want to know as soon as possible what the boxing team representation will be, and also the names of the boxers as soon as possible - in order to process all Northern Ireland team information for the Games in March." McCrory also continues a search to find a suitable opponent for Smithwick's lightflyweight champion Patrick Barnes of Belfast Holy Trinity.

Barnes receives the title on a walkover, but needs to show to the Games selectors he is a medal possibility - and should be sent to Australia.

"We tried to bring in a cross-channel lightflyweight, but there is a clash of interests as the ABA semi-finals are on Friday night.

"We are looking to other areas of IABA territory. Perhaps we may be able to use Limerick youngster Jimmy Moore as an opponent for Barnes in a special contest on Thursday night," added McCrory.

 

The Smithwick's final pairings are: FLY: Carl Frampton (Midland/White City) v Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata); BANTAM: Shaun McKim (Abbey, Bangor) v Eamonn Finnegan (Plunketts), FEATHER: Barry McCafferty (Bosco, Belfast) v Benny Hargan (Ballybofey), LIGHT: Noel Monteith (Dockers) v Kevin Doherty (Ring), LIGHTWELTER: Michael McLaughlin (Holy Trinity) v David Nevin (Cavan), WELTER: Thomas Duddy (Ring) v T J Hamill (Ballymena), MIDDLE: Eamonn O'Kane (Dungiven) v Eamonn Corbett (Belfast Sacred Heart), LIGHTHEAVY: Ciaran Crossan (Immaculata) v Damien Carroll (Holy Family), HEAVY: Alan Reynolds (Dockers) v Marty Mallon (Newry), SUPERHEAVY: Conall Carmichael (Holy Trinity) v Kalum King (Newcastle).

 

 

Belfast Telegraph Home > Sport > General      Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

Boxing: Eamonn's title bid
Younger Corbett aims to follow Darren

By David Kelly
sportseditor@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

30 November 2005

ELEVEN years ago a gumshield hurtling into the Ulster Hall crowd signalled the arrival of Darren Corbett.

Corbett was senior champion and to celebrate his super-heavyweight knockout victory over Willie Clyde, the big Belfast man booted his shield in celebration out of the ring.

Tomorrow night in the same venue, another Corbett - Eamonn - aims to pull off a major upset.

On finals night at the Smithwick's Ulster championships, Corbett takes on reigning middleweight champion Eamonn O'Kane, who is expected to be the captain of the Northern Ireland boxing team heading to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

But 17-year-old Corbett, nephew of Darren, believes that he can overcome St Canice's man O'Kane and secure his place on the plane Down Under.

"I wouldn't have entered if I had not believed that I could beat O'Kane and win the title," said young Corbett, who boxes for Ligoniel ABC.

"I'm really looking forward to boxing in the Ulster Hall because I've been going there for many years to watch Darren and it's always a great atmosphere there."

Uncle Darren will be at ringside to see if the European Cadets silver medallist can deliver a shock in what is a fascinating match-up.

The flyweight final is another mouthwatering clash as another 17-year-old, Ryan Lindberg bids for an Ulster double having recently won the intermediate title.

Immaculata lad Lindberg, whose great grandfather came from Germany, is taking on favourite Carl Frampton, who is clearly in top form having struck gold at the multi nations tournament in Ballybunion last Friday night.

Frampton, who boxes for the Midland/ White City club of Tiger's Bay, is Ireland's current number one but Lindberg is brimming with confidence following his victory over former champion Jamie Conlan in the semi-finals.

"Beating Conlon, an Ulster champion, has given me a big boost particularly because I won so well ? 34-15 says a lot about my performance," said Lindberg.

"I can't wait for the chance to come and I really that I'll be ready to go and beat Frampton. I've had some great sparring with Michael Mongan and Alfredo Meli who are two good guys coming up and I'll be in good shape to win the title."

• ALEX Arthur does not enjoy fighting friends but acknowledges he has to if he is to conquer the world.

The British, European and Commonwealth super-featherweight champion will defend his titles against undefeated Glaswegian Ricky Burns in Edinburgh on February 18.

Arthur will be looking to send him the same way as fellow Scots Craig Docherty and Willie Limond.

He is refusing to rule out a future showdown with WBO featherweight king Scott Harrison but wants to win the super-featherweight world title before trying to emulate the successes of Jim Watt and Ken Buchanan at lightweight.

Arthur said: "If I come through this one I want a major world title, which is the obvious ambition.

"I have fought two of my mates so far and I can honestly say that it is not enjoyable but this is a business and you have to fight whoever is put in front of you.

"If you think 'I am hitting my friend' that will not stand you in very good stead. You have got to concentrate on taking care of the guy in front of you like you have never seen him before.

"If you want your career to progress and to do what you dreamed of as a young kid, you take on all-comers.

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Boxing - Corbett Aims To Take Title   Courtesy of Newsletter

By Denis O'Hara

Thursday 1st December 2005

 

Carl Frampton, an 18-year-old flyweight from the Midland/White City club, knows what it takes to succeed in the Antipodes and aims to impress in tonight's Smithwick's Ulster finals at the Ulster Hall, and land another trip Down Under.

The reigning Irish senior champion also targets a first Smithwick's crown, but will not find the going comfortable against another rising starlet Ryan Lindberg, the 17-year-old Ulster Intermediate champion from the Belfast Immaculata Club.

Frampton holds a significant edge in experience.

He has been regularly involved in high profile international tests, mainly in Multi-Nations tournaments. A year back, he was in a Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Youth Games held at Bendigo, and took home a bronze medal.

A second-year student at Newtownabbey Technical, with a view to entering university, the classy kid from Belfast's Tiger's Bay area recently won gold from a multi-Nations event held at Ballybunion.

Last February he was unable to make a debut in the Smithwick's championships, suffering a bout of suspected meningitis.

Coach Billy McKee says: "Carl has been quite busy since then, along with taking in top sparring with David Oliver Joyce during international squad High Performance sessions in Dublin.

"He has matured considerably over the past year, boxing in top tournaments - including the Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow, gold medals from Multi-Nations events in Italy and Ballybunion, and also gold from a Four Nations tournament in Wales. "Carl has the experience to win the Smithwick's. It is all very well for me to say that, as Carl has to do it in the ring - and against a talented opponent.

"He has trained hard for this one, knowing what is at stake - that seven boxers will be sent to the Commonwealth Games at Melbourne in March.

"Carl has also been sparring with the Ulster bantamweight champion Shaun McKim of Bangor. Having said that, he has to do it on the night against a very good young talent, Ryan Lindberg. "I have watched Lindberg in recent contests, and he has impressed me . . . but I feel Carl's greater experience, boxing at such a high level and at a variety of places, may just swing it.

"Carl is big strong boy. He is also holding the weight very well, no problems in that respect."

The Smithwick's finals feature many other intriguing contests, including that of 17-year-old middleweight Eamonn Corbett, from the Belfast Sacred Heart club.

The nephew of former Commonwealth professional cruiserweight champion Darren Corbett, takes on defending champion Eamonn O'Kane of Dungiven.

Making a debut in the deciders is Sligo-born international heavyweight Alan Reynolds, and trying to deny the 28-yearold many times Irish champion-is Marty Mallon of Newry.

 

 

Belfast Telegraph Home > Sport > General      Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

Boxing: Crossan aims to win it just like McGuigan

By David Kelly

01 December 2005

Ciaran Crossan will aim for a little piece of history at the Ulster Hall tonight.

Light-heavyweight Crossan is bidding to become the youngest boxer since Barry McGuigan to lift an Ulster senior title.

Crossan (pictured), has taken the Smithwick's sponsored championships by storm having defeated last year's light-heavyweight and heavyweight champions Stephen Martin and Patrick Smyth.

Former world champion McGuigan claimed his Ulster senior title in 1978 just before he had turned 17 and then went on to strike gold in the Commonwealth Games.

Crossan is hoping for a similar result, starting tonight when he takes on former intermediate champion Damien Carroll for the light-heavyweight title.

Having already claimed the Ulster Intermediate title, a double looks on for the Ardoyne lad.

"To become the youngest fighter since McGuigan to win an Ulster senior title would be special," said Crossan, who seems to be improving with every contest.

Crossan is one of four 17-year-olds bidding for glory, including Eamonn Corbett, nephew of Darren, who tangles with reigning middleweight champion Eamonn O'Kane.

Following this evening's finals the Ulster Council will meet tomorrow night in the Dockers Club to decide the seven-man team for Melbourne.

Ulster president Pat McCrory said: "Maybe one of those 17-year-olds can repeat what Barry McGuigan did by wining the Ulster title and then a medal in the Games.

"I think the young lads coming through has really boosted the championships and the whole sport."

See page 31.

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Belfast Telegraph Home > Sport > General      Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

Boxing: McKim eyes a four-timer

By David Kelly

01 December 2005

Shaun McKim has his sights on a place in Northern Ireland's Commonwealth Games team.

McKim is an unassuming young man but with three Ulster senior titles to his name he is currently one of our most successful boxers.

This evening in the sold out Ulster Hall he bids for a fourth crown as the Bangor man defends his bantamweight crown.

Standing in his way will be one of four 17-year-olds taking part in the Smithwick's Seniors finals, Oliver Plunkett's Eamonn Finnegan.

McKim, who boxes for Abbey, said: "I have won titles at light-fly, fly and bantam and I feel now that I am a natural bantamweight. I feel even stronger at the weight this year.

"And I'm feeling confident about defending my title and of course I want to be on that plane to the Commonwealth Games."

Finnegan should provide a stern test for McKim and some even think the Ulster intermediate champion will rise to the occasion and snatch victory.

The Belfast man has certainly been in fine form and his coach Patsy McAllister seems quietly confident.

"He's been boxing well and he's such a dedicated lad. He will certainly give it his best shot and you never know. I never doubted his ability," said McAllister.

Another man aiming to pull off an even bigger shock will be Martin Mallon of Sacred Heart Newry.

Mallon will be going up against former Irish heavyweight champion 27-year-old Alan Reynolds, a surprise entry in this year's championships.

Reynolds, who boxed for St Joseph's Sligo, starts a clear favourite and assuming he wins one wonders where that leaves Mallon in terms of Games qualification.

Paddy Barnes has a walkover at light-flyweight and will not box, despite being offered Jimmy Moore as an opponent for a non-title contest.

First bell 7.45pm

Finals:

Light-flyweight: Patrick Barnes (Holy Family) walkover

Flyweight: Carl Frampton (Midland/W.City) v Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata)

Bantamweight: Shaun Mc Kim (Abbey) v Eamon Finnegan (Oliver Plunkett)

Featherweight: Barry Mc Cafferty (St J Bosco) v Benny Hargan (Twintowns)

Lightweight: Kevin Doherty (Ring) v Noel Monteith (Dockers)

Light welterweight: Michael McLaughlin (Holy Trinity) v David Nevin (Cavan)

Welterweight: Thomas Duddy (Ring) v TJ Hamill (All Saints)

Middleweight: Eamon O'Kane (St. Canices) v Eamon Corbett (Sacred Heart)

Light-heavyweight: Ciaran Crossan (Immaculata) v Damien Carroll (Holy Family)

Heavyweight: Alan Reynolds (Dockers) v Martin Mallon (Sacred Heart Newry)

Super-heavyweight: Conall Carmichael (Holy Trinity) v Kalum King (Newcastle)

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Boxing - McKim Lines Up Place In Oz   Courtesy of Newsletter

Denis O'Hara At The Ulster Hall

Friday 2nd December 2005

 

Bangor plasterer Shaun McKim last night took a step closer to landing a place in the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games team when he retained the Smithwick's Ulster bantamweight title.

McKim pushed himself through the pain barrier against Belfast teenager Eamonn Finnegan to win on a 26-11 points verdict.

The 24 year old, from the Abbey club, has his sights set on going to the Games at Melbourne in March, but had to endure a difficult second round when he damaged his left thumb.

But McKim's greater strength, experience and a sheer will to win forced him through to a fourth Ulster title.

Shaun took the opening round 6-2 against the lively Finnegan from the Plunkett's club. It seemed a little closer because of Finnegan's excellent ramrod left jab.

But McKim gradually came to grips with his taller opponent, and worked both the body and head to move into an 11-6 lead at the half way stage.

He slipped most of Finnegan's attempted shots in the third round. The youngster seemed to tire, and McKim went further ahead to 18-7.

"I didn't make the Commonwealth Games in Manchester four years ago because I lost to Paul Baker in my first Ulster final at light flyweight.

"But this time I've worked extremely hard in training. It was a difficult fight early on. Finnegan kept coming at me but eventually walked onto my shots.

"At first I thought my thumb was broken, but it is okay."

Coach Sandy Rice added: "Shaun showed his experience and once he settled down he bossed the fight to the end."

In a show that heralded the young tigers, former Ulster and Irish lightweight champion Noel Monteith of the Belfast Dockers club was in for a surprise. The 28 year old southpaw, who boxed in the 2001 World Championships at the Odyssey Arena, went down 13-12 to 18 year old Kevin Doherty, a hugely mobile and talented prospect coached by ex-British professional lightweight champion Charlie Nash at the Ring club.

In a fascinating all-southpaw duel, Doherty, a current Ulster intermediate champion, showed no nerves against his highly experienced opponent and eased to a 4-3 first round lead.

Monteith settled down to work on the inside and levelled at 5-5, but was not busy enough in the third round.

Doherty took a 9-7 advantage into the deciding session and rose to the occasion and his slip and slide routine and cluster punches eased him over the finishing line.

 

 

Belfast Telegraph Home > Sport > General      Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

Boxing: Tearful Ryan is pick of the punch

By David Kelly

02 December 2005

 

Ryan Lindberg was close to tears last night when he shocked the Ulster Hall with a stunning victory over Carl Frampton.

Lindberg, who only turned 17 in June claimed the Flyweight title at the Smithwicks Ulster Senior Championships with a 21-15 verdict over the reigning Irish champion, and earned the Boxer of the Championship accolade too.

"I don't believe it, I just can't believe it - I'm Ulster's Senior champion," said Lindberg, who completed a hat-trick of titles having already won Antrim and Ulster Intermediate Championships.

"I've always wanted to box in the Ulster Hall and win or lose it was going to be a great occasion for me but to win makes it so special.

"It's just amazing to beat the Irish Senior champion.

"It's a big win for me and I hope I now get selected for the Commonwealth Games."

Frampton, Midland/White City had edged the opening two rounds, coping well with Southpaw Lindberg and led 7-6 going in to the third.

Once again Frampton began strongly as the tempo increased but midway through the round Lindberg began to score heavily with his sharp hooks to body and head.

The Immaculata man took a 13-10 lead going into the final round in which he dominated with his fine solid combinations as Frampton tried in vain to grab the initiative.

Meanwhile, Eamon O'Kane's Commonwealth Games bid suffered a serious blow when he badly damaged his right hand midway through retaining the Middleweight title.

O'Kane, of St Canices, outpointed 17-year-old Eamon Corbett 15-12 in one of the best finals of the night but then explained the pain he had been in from the midway point.

O'Kane admitted: "My hand went in the second round. I caught Corbett with a right hand to the top of the head and the pain just shot up my arm. I'm just afraid it could be broken.

"For the rest of the fight I couldn't use the right hand because every time I threw it and it landed the pain just went up my arm."

Immaculata's Ciaran Crossan became the youngest Ulster Senior champion since Barry McGuigan in 1978 when he claimed the Light-heavyweight crown.

Crossan, one of the best prospects to come along for some time, dominated Damien Carroll of Holy Family and clearly deserved the 26-7 decision.

Crossan, is only just turned 17, gave another performance beyond his years as he dominated with a series of hooks and short upper-cuts though credit to Carroll who stood at close quarters and fired back throughout.

In the fourth round Crossan uncorked a sweet left hook which led to Carroll taking a count and the Immaculata teenager controlled the rest of the round.

Crossan said: "I'm just thrilled with this - and now hopefully I will be selected for the Commonwealth Games."

TJ Hamill of All Saints produced one of the best performances of his career when reclaiming the Welterweight title from defending champion Thomas Duddy.

Hamill, unable to box in last year's championships due to illness, was too sharp and too smart for Duddy and secured his fifth Senior title with a 28-8 decision.

Sligo's Alan Reynolds, boxing for Dockers, claimed the Heavyweight title with a fourth round stoppage of Sacred Heart, Newry Martin Mallon, following a third decisive count.

Holy Trinity's Conall Carmichael took the Super-heavyweight crown after comfortably defeating Kalum King of Newcastle 14-4.

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Belfast Telegraph Home > Sport      Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

Boxing: Lindberg soars as Crossan takes off

By David Kelly

02 December 2005

 

Ryan Lindberg and Ciaran Crossan came of age at the Ulster Hall last night.

The Immaculata men, both just turned 17, booked their tickets to the Commonwealth Games in March with two of the best performances on show in last night's Smithwick's Ulster senior finals.

Lindberg, an Antrim and Ulster Intermediate winner already this year, picked up the Boxer of the Championships award and few would argue with that after he outpointed reigning Irish senior champion Carl Frampton 21-15.

Though, one would have expected Crossan - the youngest winner since Barry McGuigan - to land the Most Improved Boxer after three fine displays to win the light-heavyweight crown but instead the award went to Eamonn Corbett, who lost to Eamon O'Kane in the middleweight final.

St Canices man O'Kane, a 15-12 winner, suffered damage to his right hand from the second round onwards and will have it checked today to see if has been broken.

O'Kane admitted: "My hand went in the second round. I caught Corbett with a right hand to the top of the head and the pain just shot up my arm. I'm just afraid it could be broken."

 

Lindberg, a Business Studies student, had been trailing at the halfway mark but then moved up a gear, admitting afterwards that the nerves left him and he drove to a fine victory.

A tearful Lindberg said: "I don't believe it, I just can't believe it - I'm Ulster's Senior champion.

"I've always wanted to box in the Ulster Hall and win or lose it was going to be a great occasion for me but to win makes it so special.

"It's just amazing to beat the Irish Senior champion.

"It's a big win for me and I hope I now get selected for the Commonwealth Games."

Crossan, one of the best prospects to come along for some time, dominated Damien Carroll of Holy Family and clearly deserved the 26-7 decision.

Crossan gave another performance beyond his years as he controlled the bout with a series of hooks and short uppercuts though credit to Carroll who stood at close quarters and fired back throughout.

In the fourth round Crossan uncorked a sweet left hook which led to Carroll taking a count and the Immaculata teenager controlled the rest of the round.

Crossan said: "I'm just thrilled with this - and now hopefully I will be selected for the Commonwealth Games."

 

TJ Hamill of All Saints produced one of the best performances of his career when reclaiming the welterweight title from defending champion Thomas Duddy.

Hamill, unable to box in last year's championships due to illness, was too sharp and too smart for Duddy and secured his fifth Senior title with a 28-8 decision.

Uncle Gerry, a Commonweath Games gold medallist said: "That's as good as I've seen him box. He showed that he can box and fight and was always in control. He's really maturing as a boxer."

Reigning bantamweight champion Shaun McKim claimed his fourth UIster Senior title with a comprehensive 26-11 victory over Eamon Finnegan.

McKim, of Abbey ABC, controlled the contest from the opening bell as 17-year-old Belfast lad Finnegan relentlessly charged forward.

 

McKim's experience and greater strength was clearly giving him the edge and going into the third round he was 11-6 ahead.

Kevin Doherty of Ring denied veteran Noel Monteith another senior title when he claimed the lightweight crown with a 13-12 verdict.

At midway point the boxers were tied at 5-5 but Doherty crucially had the edge going into the final two minutes with a 9-7 lead.

Cavan's David Nevin was simply in a different league to Michael McLaughlin of Holy Trinity, winning on the 20 point rule in the third round of the light welterweight decider.

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Belfast Telegraph Home > Sport > General      Courtesy of Belfast Telegraph

Boxing: Charlie lapped up his lion's share of success

By Jack Magowan
jmagowan@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

03 December 2005

CHARLIE Rice possessed not only athletic, often heroic qualities, he never knew the meaning of the word 'ego'.

In the ring, a lion; out of it, a lamb, and everybody in boxing moved up a rung in the amateur rankings when he retired.

That was in 1964, only a year after possibly the greatest three-round contest in Ulster Hall history, and Rice, then only 20, was in the red corner that night.

Fast forward over 40 years, and fans still paint vivid pictures of a fight that rocked the rafters. His opponent ?

"Enough to say there were two brothers from Doagh called Turkington, and I had the dubious privilege of boxing the stronger, most pugnacious and warlike of the pair, old pal Billy," recalls Rice with a hint of nostalgia.

"Nobody, repeat nobody, ever hit me as hard as the Turk, and my career-count topped 300 bouts, only 13 of which I lost. He threw a right hand that would have felled an ox, and one almost nailed me to the canvas.

"My legs turned to jelly, and for a second or two white dots flashed up on a black screen. I remember laughing at Billy, but it was all bluff. I was hurt, and in bad trouble."

Rice looks back on his years at Holy Family with refreshing honesty and humour. After beating tough-guy Turkington, his all-Ireland title aspirations, we thought, were about to be realised, but there was something Charlie-boy had been keeping a secret, even from trainer-coach Gerry Storey.

His eyesight was less than perfect - he suffered from double-vision at times - and would eventually force him to abandon plans to box professionally.

"It was no big deal, really, for soon I had a good job in the Civil Service," says Rice. "It wasn't until 1971 that I left Belfast for Liverpool, my adopted home for nearly 33 years, most of them as a tax inspector. It's there that son Kevin was born, and we both have happy memories of the city and many great friends."

Sadly, Charlie's wife, Anne, died two years ago, since when he returned to Belfast to live with his sister, Rosaleen.

"Happily, I'm in good shape; a little wider around the waist perhaps, but enjoying every minute of a long retirement. Like so many ex-fighters, I have high blood pressure, and see my doctor at regular intervals. It makes sense to do that," he admits.

Jim McCourt, Jim Neill, Sean McCafferty and Jim Henry all ruled the roost as Irish champions in the year of that Rice ? Turkington thriller, and, like Davie Larmour, had a warm embrace for their old boxing buddy at Thursday's Ulster Hall finals.

"Once, Charlie might have dressed like a successful young company executive, but his modesty and manners masked a bold inner toughness," says McCourt of the man who illuminated the sport so brightly. It was his first visit to the championships in nearly 40 years!

It was in New Zealand over 30 years ago that Larmour struck gold at flyweight in the Commonwealth Games, and Immaculata coach, Nugget Nugent, is convinced that his young prodigy, Ryan Lindberg, will bring home a medal from Melbourne three months hence.

Still only 17, southpaw Ryan was voted 'best boxer' of the Smithwick's championships after a shock win over international favourite, Carl Frampton, and hopefully will challenge for Carl's Irish title next month.

"The kid is improving with every fight, and can win that, too," chuckled Nugent on a night in which, after Lindberg and Frampton, Tom Hamill, Alan Reynolds and Ciaran Crossan looked the best, and in that order.

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Boxing - Magnificent Seven Chosen   Courtesy of Newsletter

By Denis O'Hara

Tuesday 6th December 2005

 

Ballymena's battling cousins, lightwelter Dermot Hamill and 23 year old welterweight Thomas (T J) Hamill have been named in a Northern Ireland seven-man boxing team likely to contest the Commonwealth Games at Melbourne.

Another club set to have two representatives Down Under in March is the Belfast Immacuala club with burgeoning babes 17 year olds Ryan Lindberg, a southpaw flyweight, and lightheavy Ciaran "Coco" Crossan, both first-time winners of Smithwick's Ulster titles last week.

Completing the seven up for consideration are light-flyweight champions Patrick Barnes (Holy Family), bantamweight Shaun McKim, a 24 year old from the Bangor Abbey club, and 23 year old middleweight champion Eamonn O'Kane of Dungiven.

Ulster IABA council officials met in Omagh to deliberate on how many boxers should be sent to Australia, and also to consider applications for box-offs from Dermot Hamill and former bantamweight champion Brian Gillen, the latter currently based in Wales.

The Holy Trinity club's appeal for Gillen, hoping to meet 24 year old title holder Shaun McKim of Bangor's Abbey Club, was turned down.

In the case of Hamill, the 2003 and 2004 lightwelter champion, a box-off was not in the equation as the new title holder is from Cavan - David Nevin.

Also ineligible, like Nevin, was new heavyweight champion Alan Reynolds, born in Sligo and boxing out of the Belfast Docker's Club.

The other champions not considered were featherweight Barry McCafferty (Bosco), lightweight Kevin Doherty (Ring), and Super-heavyweight Conall Carmichael (Belfast Holy Trinity).

The 25 year old Hamill is the odd man out in the list, the one non-champion. Dermot was unable to defend his title due to a foot injury.

Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council officers urgently requested the names of the proposed boxing team members.

Ulster IABA President Pat McCrory said: "The Games Council members meet at the House of Sport next Monday, to consider our application to have the seven boxers sent to the Games."

Once the team is ratified, one way or other, a rigorous training programme will swing into action.

Matt Hamill, chairman of the Ballymena club and father of T J said: "This is a wonderful honour for the All Saints Club, and the town of Ballymena.

"It makes history for the club, two boxers in a Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games' team. The previous boxer from our gym to compete in the Games was Tony McAvoy.

"Tony now helps Gerry Hamill with the coaching. Of course, Gerry was with the Belfast Holy Family Club when he won gold at Edmonton in 1978.

"We keep fingers crossed both boxers will be sent to Melbourne. Dermot has overcome his foot injury and is back in full training.

"The damage prevented him from going for a hat-trick of Smithwick's lightwelterweight titles. T J was glad to be fit and able to win his fifth Ulster crown.

"He had a virus in February, and couldn't defend the welterweight title.

"He was determined to prove he is the best in Ulster at the weight, and that his trophy was merely on loan. T J did it with some style last week at the Ulster Hall."

 

The seven boxers nominated are . . .

 

LIGHTFLY - Patrick Barnes (Holy Family), FLY - Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata), BANTAM - Shaun McKim (Abbey, Bangor), LIGHTWELTER - Dermot Hamill (Ballymena All Saints), WELTER - Thomas Hamill (Ballymena All Saints), MIDDLE - Eamonn O'Kane (Dungiven), LIGHTHEAVY - Ciaran Crossan (Immaculata).

 

 

BBC SPORT / BOXING     Courtesy of BBC Sport
Graphics Version | Change to UK Version | BBC News Home

Tuesday, 6 December 2005, 10:22 GMT

Seven boxers nominated for Games

Immaculata boxer Ryan Lindberg is one of the magnificent seven who hope to represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Lindberg is joined by Ballymena cousins Dermot and Thomas Hamill, Patrick Barnes, Shaun McKim, Eamonn O'Kane and Ciaran Crossan.

Four Ulster champions missed out and the exclusion of ex-Irish champion Brian Gillen has courted controversy.

The seven nominated will be ratified by the Games Council next Monday.

Lindberg, at least was a certain selection after he won the best boxer award at the Ulster Amateur Boxing Championships last Thursday night at the Ulster Hall.

His Immaculata team-mate Crossan fights in the light-heavyweight division and earns his selection after only stepping out of the Intermediate ranks this year.

The Hamill cousins box out of the All Saints club in Ballymena with light-welterweight Dermot the only non-champion selected.

Holy Trinity's super-heavyweight champion Conall Carmichael missed out on selection along with featherweight Barry McCaffery and heavyweight Cathal McMonagle also non-selections.

With a decision on the candidates required immediately by the Commonwealth Games Council, the Ulster IABA had to abandon any idea of box-offs.

That meant that Welsh-based Gillen's hopes of meeting new bantamweight champion Shaun McKim was turned down.

 

The seven boxers nominated are:
light-flyweight: Patrick Barnes (Holy Family)
flyweight: Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata)
bantamweight: Shaun McKim (Abbey, Bangor)
light-welterweight: Dermot Hamill (Ballymena All Saints)
welterweight: Thomas Hamill (Ballymena All Saints)
middleweight: Eamonn O'Kane (Dungiven)
light-heavyweight: Ciaran Crossan (Immaculata).
 

 

 

Belfast Telegraph Home > Sport > General

Boxing: Carl out in the cold

By Jack Magowan
jmagowan@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

10 December 2005

 

ON PAPER, Carl Frampton looked cut out for a medal at the Commonwealth Games. As Ireland's senior flyweight champion, this 18-year-old Belfast student had struck gold twice in multi-nation tournaments at home and in Rome, and was unlucky, some felt, not to make the final of the Commonwealth championships in Glasgow.

What promised to be a great year for Carl, however, would end in regret and a sense of loss. Against Ryan Lindberg, the Immaculata club's classy young southpaw, he had the night off, and lost by a clear margin. Soon, surprise-packet Lindberg was being voted the best of over 20 Ulster Hall finalists, and a firm choice for Melbourne selection, while Frampton has been left to swallow his disappointment and will be staying at home. Which poses a thorny question - can Ulster, so bereft of talent in recent times, afford to close the book on Frampton? When boxing's selection panel considered matching bantamweight champion, Shaun McKim, from Bangor, with a selected opponent, presumably to dispel doubts on how good he was, had they Carl in mind for the job? If not, they should have!

Clearly, this would have been a controversial, yet imaginative, step, yet not without precedent in Games' selection here.

Who will forget how Paddy Maguire stepped up a weight prior to the Jamaican Games of 1966, then rewarded us with a silver medal to go with Jim McCourt's gold, plus a clutch of bronze from Frank Young, Sam Lockhart and heavyweight Dan McAlinden.

Nobody could have been surprised when boxing was allocated only seven places for Australia ; only that the team had to be finalised, and announced, a couple of days after the Smithwick's finals.

Naturally with the Games still three months away, such needless urgency is hard to understand, and of no real benefit to anybody. Couldn't they have waited until after next month's National championships ?.

Imagine an Ulster team of any kind without two Irish champions, yet this is what we can expect should Frampton and big guy Cathal McMonagle retain their Irish titles in Dublin!

And there's something else bugging me on the eve of Monday's final ratification of this Melbourne team. Michael Hawkins, too, is missing from the line-up, and that can't be right.

Not only is Hawkins, a Belfast company director, one of amateur boxing's top coaches in a club renowned for its professionalism, he called the shots at the 1990 and '94 Games at which the cream of Ulster's best won six medals, three of them gold.

"Then, our boxers were ill-prepared, out of sorts, and slumped dismally," says Sean Canavan, of IABA fame.

Canavan says he can't understand why Derry lad Kevin Doherty was left out of the side for Australia. "And that goes, too, for Hawkins," adds Sean. "Michael has all the qualities of a great trainer-coach, and would have been my first choice here."

Like Lindberg, Nugget Nugent's other young prodigy, light-heavyweight Ciaran Crossan, must be a real medal prospect in a multi-sport team of 60 awaiting Monday's rubber-stamp.

"Only then will competitors know for certain they are Melbourne-bound," declared Dick McColgan, a name synonymous with the 'Friendly Games'.

Is it too late for changes to the boxing team? Just asking!

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Co. Derry Board Furious At Doherty's Rejection      Courtesy of Newsletter

Tuesday 13th December 2005

 

THE FAILURE of the Ulster Council of the Irish Amateur Boxing Board to select current Ulster Senior Lightweight champion, Kevin Doherty (Ring A.B.C.) for next year's Commonwealth Games has angered the local body.

In fact, Co. Derry Chairman, Min McCann, has worded a strong letter of complaint which was received by the Ulster Council before last night's meeting in Belfast with the N. Ireland Commonwealth Games Selection Committee.

In the letter, Mr. McCann reflected back on the major disappointment of the N. Ireland amateur boxing team in Manchester and he said his Board could not understand why a potential boxing medal winner could be left out of the team travelling to Melbourne in 2006.

"The last Commonwealth Games team failed miserably and received so much criticism, so it rested with the Ulster Council to send only potential medal winners to next year's Games," said the Co. Derry Chairman.

"A ad hoc meeting was held last week in Omagh, at which four boxers were confirmed, with the remaining three places to be decided after a box-off.

"The general consensus is that, had Noel Monteith emerged as champion after the lightweight final, he would have been added to the team given his experience. Yet Ring A.B.C.'s Kevin Doherty, who defeated Monteith in that final, was not afforded the same luxury and we can't understand why the Ulster Council selectors didn't follow the same script.

"Kevin's experience at senior level far outweighs that of two of the other selected boxers and one wonders why they were selected over him, given that only 'potential medal winners' were being selected," continued Mr. McCann.

"That said, Kevin Doherty was still willing to enter into a box off for a place on the team had the situation been offered to him."

The Co. Derry Board Chairman went on: "The indefensible manner in which the remainder of the team was selected further compounds the feeling within Derry boxing. We are firmly of the belief that 'other forces' are at play in this argument. With telephone calls having been exchanged, there are no recorded minutes available for inspection so that just one person has a record of the views exchanged.

Mr. McCann claimed that the County Derry Board goes to great lengths to ensure that it conducts its business in a professional manner, in a way that guarantees transparency and accountability.

"The Ulster Council appears to make up its own rules as it stumbles from one disaster to another and this fiasco will go down in history as one of its greatest gaffs. We would also suggest that the Ulster Council has a long history of similar miscarriages against Derry boxers. Indeed, the Derry Board had cause to complain about the way its officials were treated at last year's Ulster Senior Finals and is still awaiting a written response," declared the local official.

The Derry Chairman, however, was hopeful that Doherty would be selected at the eleventh hour.

"We are hopeful that the Ulster Council will have a rethink about the manner in which it conducts its business so that we in boxing can ensure the survival of our chosen sport and maximise our sports potential at the Commonwealth Games. There remains plenty to be done but we are hopeful that Kevin Doherty will travel with the team."

 

 

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