Chip off Barry’s block to challenge in Ulster

A baby-faced Barry McGuigan burst onto the Ulster Senior Championship title scene back in the late ‘70s. The Smithboro teenager wasn’t that well known to Belfast fight fans at the time.But all that changed – explosively and forever – on an unforgettable finals night at the Ulster Hall.McGuigan stepped into the final arena very much the underdog that night, but a third round demolition of a tough and very skilful Belfast opponent marked him out as something special.And so it would prove.Fast forward almost 30 years and the same scenario is about to unfold at the Ulster Seniors.Another virtually-unknown McGuigan, a chip off the old block, is about to make his Ulster entrance.Shane McGuigan, the 19-year-old son of former amateur and professional star Barry, is expected to weigh in tomorrow morning at the Dockworkers’ Social Club, Belfast, bidding to follow in his father’s illustrious footsteps.

Standing at 5ft 10in and tipping the scales at around 10st 10lb, the 2007 English Novice Amateur champion carries a bit more weight than his featherweight dad did in his heyday.McGuigan Jnr, who is based at the Aylesham ABC near Canterbury in England, is expected to challenge for Ulster welterweight honours.‘’Yes, I can confirm that we expect young Shane McGuigan to weigh in for the Ulster’s this weekend,’’ said Ulster president Pat McCrory last night.‘’I believe he is boxing under the Clones banner. I know Barry helps to train him. He takes a great interest in the young lad. It’s a tough division. Whoever wins it will need to be at his best.’’It’s very early days in the career of young Shane McGuigan.
It would be grossly unfair to burden the teenager with the heavy weight of expectation, the sense of anticipation that his father’s name conjured up.A fight well fought will do nicely.Last year, the 69 kilos category was one of the toughest divisions in the Ulster Senior programme.

Seasoned boxers such as Niall Diamond (All Saints, Ballymena), David Nevin (Cavan), Thomas Duddy (Ring) and Shane McKeown (Sacred Heart, Newry) all challenged for welterweight honours last January, but Donegal’s William McLaughlin (Illies Golden Gloves) topped them all.

O’Kane has a point to prove as McGuigan Jr limbers up

Down memory lane: Dr John Donnelly discusses old times with Barry McGuigan at the weigh-ins for the Ulster Senior Boxing Championships where Barry’s son Shane (centre) is fighting in the welterweight division. Picture: Brendan Murphy

EAMONN O’Kane, the immovable object of Ulster middleweight boxing, has been handed a tough quarter-final draw as he bids for his sixth straight Ulster senior title.

The Immaculata-based Dungiven man will face his main rival, All Saints’ TJ Hamill, in Thursday’s quarter-finals.

Speaking at the championship weigh-ins at the Dockers’ Club, Belfast on Saturday, which also featured Shane McGuigan, son of former world featherweight champion Barry, O’Kane predicted an absorbing tournament.

“TJ Hamill’s in there, Paddy McCrory is a very talented lad and Steven O’Reilly is a good lad too. So it’ll be tough, but I’ve trained very hard and, hopefully, I’ll not be too far away,” he said.

O’Kane has been stung by criticism of his below-par performance at the Irish Senior Championships and intends to bounce back in style.

“I was disappointed with the way I boxed at the Irish because I’d taken a sickness,” he said.

“I shouldn’t have boxed, but out of pride I went on with it so I’m here to vindicate myself and put all that behind me.”

After weighing in, McGuigan junior – the ABA Novice champion – was quickly shepherded away. But he will return tomorrow night to face Holy Trinity’s Terry Garland in the welterweight quarter-finals.

Garland, a former Ulster intermediate champion, will not be put off by his opponent’s illustrious pedigree and credentials.
“I’m in good shape at the minute, I think I’ve got a good chance at this weight, it doesn’t matter who I have to box,” he said
Garland’s Holy Trinity stablemate Anthony Cacace is the man to beat at lightweight. He is through to the semi-finals where he will face the winner of the Mark Ginley (Oliver Plunkett) versus Sonny Upton (Holy Family) contest.
“It didn’t happen for me at all at the Irish seniors. I was rushin’ in and I got caught,” said Cacace.
“I learned a lot from it though, it’s still only my first year in the seniors and I thought I did well to get to the final.
“It’ll be tough this year, but I think I’ll win. Everyone at the weight is good, there’ll be no easy fights, but I like it tough, always have.”
Irish senior finalist Ruari Dalton, of St John’s ABC, will have a big say in the flyweight
division.
“Boxing’s my life, I’m enjoying every minute of it,” said Dalton.
“This is my first time entering the seniors and I’m confident enough of taking the title. My coach Frankie McCourt has brought me on leaps and bounds.”
Paddy Barnes has already been crowned light-flyweight champion by virtue of a walkover.
Unsurprisingly, no one emerged to challenge the Beijing-bound Holy Family man.
“Three times in-a-row I’ve been champion and I’m down (at the Dockers) to retain my title again,” Barnes said at Saturday’s weigh-ins.
“The only reason I’m weighing in is to keep my title. There’s nobody that can seriously challenge me – if I can’t win the Ulsters, there’s no point going to the Olympics.”

Dockers spotlight to fall on McGuigan jnr

FIGHTING FIT: Dr John Donnelly puts Padraic McCrory of St John’s ABC through his medical for this week’s Ulster Senior Boxing Championships in the Dockers’ Club, Belfast. Picture: Brendan Murphy

FIGHTING out of Aylesham’s boxing club on the outskirts of Canterbury last summer, 18-year-old Shane McGuigan made his first mark at Championship level when he won the ABA senior novice title at welterweight.

He has signed since for the Clones club and tonight the son of the ‘Cyclone’, former WBA world featherweight champion, Hall of Famer, MBE and Sky Sports analyst Barry, makes his full senior debut in the Ulster arena at Belfast’s Dockworkers Club.

Shane still scales 69 kilos and he’s listed for the last contest of the opening night, against Holy Trinity’s Terence Garland, for a place in Thursday’s semi-final against either 2007 champion William McLaughlin of Illies Golden Gloves or Holy Family’s James Ferrin.
At the weekend weigh-in at the Dockers, the lenses of assembled photographers had McGuigan junior in focus. It goes with the territory and no doubt when adrenaline starts to kick-in for his bout with Garland, there will be no shortage of attention on how he fares.
Welter looks a fascinating division. Not alone is McLaughlin back seeking to emulate his title success over Newry’s Shane McKeown of 12 months ago, McKeown has put recent controversial scoring issues at the National Stadium to one side and thrown his gloves inside the ropes for another bid for Ulster glory.
He opens his campaign on Thursday against David Walsh of St John’s while Ring’s Thomas Duddy, a champion at this weight in 2005, faces the winner of tonight’s preliminary box-off between Dungloe’s Cathal McCauley and Michael Bustard of Monkstown.
Cairn Lodge’s highly-rated prospect, Marc McCullough, is also in action on night one.
McCullough, voted last year’s Most Improved Boxer following a debut challenge at senior that secured a bantamweight final place against Immaculata’s Ryan Lindberg, has moved up to feather.
The title is vacant as Ballymena’s Stephen Donnelly switches to light, a division that looks to have the potential to deliver serious fireworks between now and the final bell to next week’s decider. McCullagh is drawn against Patrick Hyland of Gleann. The winner faces lead contender Carl Frampton of Midland/White City in Friday’s semi-finals.
In the other half of the draw, last year’s beaten final, John Cooley from the St Joseph’s club in Derry, will box one of two Oliver Plunkett hopefuls, Eamon Finnegan or Tyrone McKenna.
Ring’s Kevin Doherty is another on the move up the weights. Doherty lost out to Anthony Cacace in the 2007 lightweight final and has opted to try to go one better, this time at light-welter. His campaign starts tonight also. Opposing him is Michael McLaughlin of Carndonagh.
As mentioned, one division to keep an eye on is lightweight. Action here begins with two quarter-finals tonight.
First into the firing line are Holy Family’s former Dublin-based prospect Sonny Upton and Mark Ginley of Belfast’s Oliver Plunkett ABC.
The other sees Barry McCafferty of Belfast’s St John Bosco matched against Gleann’s Donal Burns.
Champion Cacace won the title at the first attempt, at the age of 17, and the teenager prepared for his defence competing in IABA’s box-off recently to decide the squad entered for Europe’s final Olympic qualifying tournament in Greece. He didn’t make the cut at that level but he believes he can double up in the Ulsters and win back-to-back titles, for two different clubs.
Anthony has moved from Oliver Plunkett to Holy Trinity for this season and his focus is clearly on bigger things.
“Hopefully I can retain the title. This is my natural weight, I feel stronger at 60 kilos than I felt last year and I’m more confident now in my ability.
“I thought I boxed great in my first Irish Seniors last year, beat four-time champion Stephen Ormond in the semi-finals, but lost 6-4 to Ross Hickey in the final, but I thought I won it. It was good experience. I haven’t won an Irish senior title yet, but I will. I believe I’m good enough.
“It is all part of developing my boxing and my experience for the next Olympic Games in London. That is the target.
“I will still be quite young by the time the London Olympics come round and I’ll have a few years senior international experience behind me by then. But first I want to successfully defend my Ulster title and I know that’s going to be very tough. There are some very good boxers at 60 kilos this year.”
Stephen Donnelly is in the mix. Last season’s champion at feather has grown out of that weight. He believes the light box-offs could be the division that delivers the sparks over the next nine days. He meets McCafferty or Burns in the semi-finals on Friday.
“It is going to be the weight of the seniors. It is going to be good. For me this is all part of preparing myself to try and make the squad for the next Commonwealth Games in India in two years time. The way things are going, I might be boxing welterweight by then but all I’m looking forward to is the Ulster Seniors and I think there will be fireworks at lightweight.”
The action starts at the famous Pilot Street venue at 8pm with young McGuigan scheduled to make his debut in the 10th and final contest of the prelims.

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
VIS Ulster Senior Championships (Dockworkers Club, Belfast 8pm)
Quarter-Finals (4rds x 2mins)
Welterweight (69kg): Shane McKeown (Sacred Heart Newry) v David Walsh (St John’s); Thomas Duddy (Ring) v Cathal McCauley (Dungloe) or Michael Bustard (Monkstown); William McLaughlin (Illies GG) or James Ferrin (Holy Family) v Terence Garland (Holy Trinity) or Shane McGuigan (Clones).
Middleweight (75kg): Eamonn O’Kane (Immaculata) v TJ Hamill (All Saints); Stephen O’Reilly (Twintowns) v David Nevin (Cavan); Ryan Greene (Dockers) v Martin Lynch (Illies GG); Patrick Reilly (Oliver Plunkett) v Padraig McCrory (St John’s).
Light-heavyweight (81kg): Paul Moffett (Abbey) v Stephen Martin (St John Bosco Belfast); Steven Ward (Monkstown) v Thomas McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett).
Heavyweight (91kg): Damien Ramsey (Ligoniel) v John Paul Reah (St John Bosco Belfast); Shane Curran (Enniskillen) v Shaun Crudden v Shaun Crudden (Enniskillen).

Left Hooks...

- Spike McCormick is a name weaved into the rich fabric of Ulster and Irish boxing. As a seasoned pro in the late ’50s and ’60s, a courageous, naturally-gifted Spike mixed it with the best, including the legendary Ken Buchanan. Spike’s son Sean was to prove a chip of the old block, exhibiting bags of ability and a natural talent in the Holy Trinity and Newhill gyms. News of Sean’s death at the weekend, at the age of 45, stunned his family and many friends in boxing.

“He was brilliant in the gym. He had outstanding ability, fantastic hands and full of tricks and skill,” said his Holy Trinity coach Michael Hawkins. “He’ll be missed badly. I’ll never forget his laugh, his sense of fun and his outstanding natural ability in the ring.” Seconds Out offers sincere condolences to Sean’s wife Karen, sons Sean and Stephen and the McCormick family circle.

- Brothers boxing against each other does happen from time to time, but if it can be avoided it generally is. That’s how it panned out in the National Junior Championships light middleweight final at the weekend in Dublin. Having won their semi-final bouts, Wexford brothers Gary and Edward Byrne were due to clash for the 70kgs title at the National Stadium in Dublin, but the brothers decided amongst themselves that Gary would receive a walkover.
There was better news for the Immaculata club with Mark McKay defeating James Tennyson (Gleann) in the 39kgs final. Saints Twinbrook clubman Charles Gallagher added another Irish title to his collection with an 11-8 win over Kiril Afasenev (Smithfield) in the 80kgs decider.
“Sean McGlinchey (St Mary’s) and Charles Gallagher (Saints) impressed in their wins,” said O’Neill. Mark Foster (Gilford) won through against a good opponent, Enda Kennedy (Toome), in an all-Ulster final and Christopher Joyce denied St Mary’s Dublin a second title.

National Junior Championships final results (April 12): 36kg: Stephen Tracey (Ryston) Walkover (WO); 39kg: James Tennyson (Gleann) lost Mark McKay (Immaculata) 1-9; 42kg: Orin McDermot (Finn Valley) W0; 44kg: (Special) George Bates (St Mary’s Dublin) bt Niall Cooney (Clann Naofa) WO; 46kg: Owen McDonagh (St Anne’s) lost Chris Phelan (Ryston) 2-17; 48kg: Daniel McShane (Gleann) lost Kieran Forde (Monivea) 3-6; 50kg: Mark Foster (Gilford) bt Enda Kennedy (Toome) 4-1; 52kg: Michael McDonagh (St Mary’s Dublin) lost Christopher Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) 4-8; 54kg: Eoghan Wright (Finn Valley) WO; 57kg: James Fryers (Immaculata) lost Chris Mullaly (Ryston) 2-5; 60kg: John Carroll (Navan) WO; 66kg: Daniel Page Joyce (St Mary’s Dublin) lost Chris Blaney (Navan) RSC2; 70kg: Gary Byrne (Wexford CBS) beat Edward Byrne (Wexford CBS) WO; 75kg: Sean McGlinchey (St Mary’s) bt Michael Ward (Monivea) 7-1; 80kg: Charles Gallagher (Saints) bt Kiril Afasenev (Smithfield) 11-8; 86kg: Michael Murphy (Gorey) bt Patrick Timlin (Geesala) 8-2; 91+kg: Jack Morrissey (Sacre Coeur) lost James Leahy (Bay City) RSC1.

- Formerly known as the National Junior Championship, this event will now be named the National Youth Championship. The winners of this year’s event could be in line for a shot at European and World Youth honours. IABA’s Central Council recently moved into line with world body regulations and agreed to rebrand the event. It gets underway at the National Stadium in Dublin on Friday May 23 and runs over Saturday and Sunday (if required) that weekend with the finals on Friday May 30. Boxers born in 1990 and 1991 are eligible to compete. The European Youth Championships are in Bulgaria in June and the World Youth Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico in October.

- Other Irish Championship changes designed to fall into line with the AIBA and EABA rules are as follows: 1. The Junior Cadet Championships will be for boxers born 1994/1995. The Championships will take place on the April 25, 26 and 27 and will be for the top four boxers in their Boy 2 and Boy 3 Divisions respectively. 2. The Senior Cadet Championships, now called the National Junior Championships, will be open to boxers born in 1992/1993. The top four boxers in Boy 4 and Youth 1 categories will be eligible.

O’Kane warns rivals to see ‘sixth’ sense

BRING IT ON: Derry middleweight Eamonn O’Kane believes his rivals will “fancy themselves” against him as he aims for six-in-a-row in the Ulster Senior Boxing Championships. Picture: Ann McManus

WHEN Evander Holyfield was heavyweight champion of the world, he trained under a huge banner that read: “Respect – gotta get it.”
Even though he ruled the roost in the early 1990s, the God-fearing champion felt he wasn’t receiving the kudos due to him.
Immaculata’s Eamonn O’Kane may feel an empathy with the famous world champion.
The classy Derry middleweight may be aiming for his sixth Ulster senior crown – but believes he’s entering this evening’s provincials having to prove himself all over again.
After suffering a surprise loss to Portlaoise’s Edward Healy in the National Championships in January, O’Kane’s market value has slipped.
The Ulster champion admitted: “Last year, there was only myself and TJ Hamill in the weight division, but there are eight guys this year and I’m sure they all fancy themselves because of my dismal performance in the Irish Nationals.
“But it makes me raise my game. It’s made me dig a wee bit deeper and train that bit harder and I’ve done that now. So I’m ready for these Championships.”
O’Kane couldn’t have asked for a tougher opener at the Dockerworkers club this evening in the guise of All Saints clubman TJ Hamill. Last year, O’Kane nicked the provincial middleweight crown from Hamill by a single point.
“I’ve beaten TJ twice,” added O’Kane. “He said my first win over him [four years ago] was controversial, but I definitely beat him the second time.
“I’m going for six in-a-row; I’ve been sparring with Darren Sutherland and Kenneth Egan as they were preparing for the Olympic qualifiers, and I felt I was matching them. So hopefully I can carry that boxing into the ring.
“TJ is a top class opponent. I’ve the utmost respect for him and I’ll have to be at my very best to beat him.”
Hamill hasn’t fought competitively in a year, with his trainer and father, Gerry, admitting he would have preferred a shot at O’Kane later in the championships.
“It’s a hard division, but obviously there would have been one or two other guys I would have preferred before Eamonn O’Kane. But you take what you’re dealt.”
TJ has sparred with rookie pro Willie Thompson in preparation for tonight’s return match with O’Kane. His father pointed out that his son was a blown-up middleweight when he last fought O’Kane, but has “beefed up” over the last 12 months.
“TJ is one of those lads who is always confident,” admitted Hamill. “One thing about Thomas is when he puts his mind to it he’s a
smashing trainer.”
Another intriguing contest at the Dockers Club tonight is the welterweight semi-final contest between Barry McGuigan’s son, Shane, and Holy Family’s James Ferrin.
Rookie McGuigan eased past Terry Garland, also of Holy Family, on Tuesday night, while Ferrin came through unscathed against William McLaughlin.
Holy Family trainer Gerry Storey was very impressed with McGuigan jr’s 27-5 debut win and believes tonight’s welterweight face-off could end up being the fight of the night.
“Young Shane is a very good, strong prospect and this is the type of competition he needs to bring him on,” noted Storey.
“But there is added pressure on the young lad because of his father’s name. It’s a bit unfair on him.
“But, as far as we’re concerned, young James Ferrin is another great prospect. This year he’s had good wins in the Channel Islands, London and Philadelphia.
“He’s an experienced kid and it’ll be an interesting contest.”

TONIGHT’S SCHEDULE
Quarter-Finals
Welterweight 69kg:

11. S McKeown (S Heart, Newry) v D Walsh (St John’s),
12. T Duddy (Ring) v C McCauley (Dungloe).

Middleweight 75kg: 13. E O’Kane (Immaculata) v TJ Hamill (All Saints),
14. S O’Reilly (Twintowns) v D Nevin (Cavan),

15. R Green (Dockers) v M Lynch (Illies GG),

16. P Reilly (O. Plunkett) v P McCrory (St John’s).
Semi-Finals
Welterweight 69kg:

17. J Ferrin (Holy Family) v S McGuigan (Clones).
Lt Heavyweight 81kg:

18. P Moffet (Abbey) v S Martin (SJB, Belfast),

19. S Ward (Monkstown) v T McCarthy (O. Plunkett).
Heavyweight 91kg:

20. D Ramsey (Ligoniel) v JP Reah (SJB, Belfast),

21. S Curran (Enniskillen) v S Crudden (Enniskillen).
Bouts start at 8pm. Semi-finals continue at this venue tomorrow at 8pm. Finals in Andersonstown Leisure Centre on Thursday April 24 at 7.45pm.

Power pays for Padraig

PADRAIG McCrory of St John’s produced power and accuracy to force two standing counts before eventually stopping Oliver Plunkett’s Patrick Reilly in the third round of their middleweight box-off.
Stephen O’Reilly (Twintowns) also progressed 10-2 against Cavan’s David Nevin.
Ryan Green, last year’s champion at light-heavy but entered at middleweight, disappointed fans when he withdrew two hours before his scheduled quarter-final due to flu. Illies Golden Gloves opponent Martin Lynch gained a walkover.
The contender for fight of the Championships so far was Shane McKeown’s war at welterweight with David Walsh of St John’s, a contest that gave the judges a hard time trying to keep tabs with what were clean, scoring punches before the fight was called 18-17 in McKeown’s favour.
At feather Eamonn Finnegan (Oliver Plunkett) is through to next week’s final on a walkover after last season’s finalist John Cooley (St Joseph’s Derry) withdrew. Carl Frampton (Midland White City) or Marc McCullough of Cairn Lodge meet tonight to decide who faces Finnegan for the title.

KO boost for Sugar Shane

Double impact: Shane McKeown (left) of Sacred Heart, Newry battles it out with David Walsh of St John’s during their welterweight bout at the Ulster Seniors last night. Picture: Colm O’Reilly

SHANE McGuigan produced a sensational second round KO, unleashing a terrific long straight right-handed punch to stop Holy Family’s James Ferrin and qualify for next week’s Ulster Seniors final at welterweight.
He will be opposed by either Shane McKeown of Sacred Heart Newry, or Dungloe’s Cathal McCauley, but how he brought Ferrin’s challenge to a shuddering stop was a warning shot for whoever he faces.
“He came out trying to rush me in the first round, and in the second round, trying to bamboozle me with straight shots, but he wasn’t hurting me. As the round went on I knew I was starting to get to him and he was starting to tire,” said the teenager.
He is now eight minutes, at most, away from emulating his famous father Barry, the former WBA world featherweight champion, who won his first Ulster Seniors title 30 years ago at his first attempt.
McGuigan was 12-5 ahead when the bout was dramatically terminated by referee Paul Carson 60 seconds into round two.
For Eamonn O’Kane, it was a tough night’s work. The middleweight title he held on to by the skin of his teeth after scraping past long-time rival TJ Hamill by two points after a hotly-disputed quarter-final fight.
Immaculata’s star man kept on track with plenty of trouble for a possible sixth senior win. But, how the judges scored it, 12-10, left the Ballymena All Saints former champion shaking his head.
TJ left the arena seeing red, visibly angered, claiming the decision was “a disgrace” and was at a loss as to where the clean punches came from in the final round to deny him victory.
He appeared to deliver enough accuracy over the eight minutes to question the losing margin. His upset coaches Gerry and Matt Hamill were highly critical of the officials, and said they were “very disappointed” before spending several minutes airing grievances with the Council’s top brass.
Gerry said: “I think 99.9 percent of those who watched the fight believed TJ won it.
“I thought TJ threw the cleaner punches, won the fight and that is nothing against Eamonn. How he was not warned for holding I just don’t know and the officiating of the contest makes me think this may be the last time I will be involved with the Seniors.”
A controversial post-script, the bout was decided in the last four minutes, the key for O’Kane being round three when Hamill was not accredited with a clean shot, O’Kane three, to open up a 9-6 lead.
Up until then they could not be split. The first and second sessions were scored 1-1 and 5-5, the second an excellent two minutes of hard trading.
O’Kane, three ahead entering the final round, took a cracking right hook at the start of it, but this didn’t register with the computer judging.
A powerful right closed the gap to one (9-8). The last half minute maintained that margin at 10-9 and 11-10 but a fraction before the bell the champion conjured another score to advance to tonight’s semi-finals.

TONIGHT’S SCHEDULE
(Dockworkers Social Club, 8pm)
Semi-finals
Flyweight (51kgs): Jamie Conlon (St John Bosco, Belfast) v Neil Walker (Dockers); Ruairi Dalton (St John’s) v Christopher Rice (Immaculata)
Featherweight (57kgs): Carl Frampton (Midland White City) v Marc McCullough (Cairn Lodge); John Cooley (St Joseph’s, Derry) v Eamonn Finnegan (Oliver Plunkett).
Lightweight (60kgs): Anthony Cacace (Holy Trinity) v Sonny Upton (Holy Family); Stephen Donnelly (All Saints, Ballymena) v Barry McCafferty (St John Bosco, Belfast).
Light-welterweight (64kgs): James McDonagh (Dockers) v Patrick Gallagher (Gleann); Kevin Doherty (Ring) v Patrick Murphy (Sacred Heart Newry).
Welterweight (69kgs): Shane McKeown (Sacred Heart, Newry) v Cathal McCauley (Dungloe)
Middleweight (75kgs): Eamonn O’Kane (Immaculata) v Stephen O’Reilly (Twintowns); Martin Lynch (Illies GG) v Padraig McCrory (St John’s)

Cacace victorious in the battle of Belfast

ANTHONY Cacace won the battle between West and North Belfast last night with a convincing win over Sonny Upton in the lightweight semi-final of the Ulster Senior Championships.
The Holy Trinity fighter led from start to finish against his Holy Family opponent.
His victory sets him up for a meeting with?Eamon Finnegan in next Thursday’s final at the Anderstown Leisure Centre.
Cacace took command in the first round when he caught Upton flush on the face with a clubbing right hand.
Upton was forced to take a standing count as the blood trickled from his nose.
The North Belfast lad tried to fight on the counterattack but his right jab was of little deterrant to the aggressive and more powerful,?Cacace.
Upton was in trouble again in the second round when a flurry of punches left him on the canvas.
Having?lost the first two rounds 2-0 and 4-1, Upton needed to produce something special, but he failed to trouble Cacace who was never in danger of losing.
The Holy Trinity?fighter?was the constant aggressor. His superior?strength and excellent defence enabled him to coast to a convincing 12-1 victory.
The night's action got off to a pulsating start when James Conlan (St John Bosco) and Neil Walker (Dockers) staged a terrific four-round scrap.
Conlan eventually emerged as a 29-20 winner but he didn’t get everything his own way.
Throughout the contest Walker connected with some stinging left hands. Neither boxer took a backward step, but Conlan had the quicker, more accurate hands, and was able to score with combinations of punches to the body and head.
The St John Bosco fighter won the first two rounds 8-6 and 10-4. Walker fared best in the third round which was tied 6-6, although this was also the round in which Conlan landed his best punch.
After being warned for showboating, Conlan refocused his efforts and caught Walker with an explosive short right, which forced a standing count.
Despite soaking up some considerable punishment, Walker proved himself a gutsy competitor and battled to the final bell.
Conlan will meet?Ruairi Dalton (St John’s) in the flyweight final. Dalton had an easy win over Immaculata’s Christopher Rice, who retired in the second round.
Rice, sporting a pair of flashy split shorts, failed to produce a performance in keeping with his flamboyant attire.
Dalton unleashed a barrage of punches in the first half which kept Rice on the backfoot throughout.
Trailing?11-1 after the first, there was no reprieve for?Rice in the second round as the Dalton onslaught continued.?
Rice lost the second 9-1 and his corner retired him before the start of the third.
The?featherweight semi-final between Carl Frampton (White City) and Marc McCullough (Cairnlodge) produced the tightest contest of the night.
McCullough proved to be an evasive and tricky customer for Frampton who forced the issue from start to finish.
After the first two rounds finished 1-1 and 2-2, the battling Frampton moved clear in the third which he won 5-1.
McCullough, a counter-attacking boxer, never looked comfortable when asked to come forward and Frampton won 11-7.?
Frampton will fight Eamon Finnegan in the final.
Finnegan won his semi-final by a walk over.
His opponent John Cooley (St Joseph’s) had the flu.
 

Shane right on target

THE fighting McGuigans were impossible to miss. Barry in light blue leads his boy, dressed in dark Clones ABC fatigues, in through the crowd, television cameras activate and photographers ringside work the angles for the pictures they are looking for. Down by the old docks another fight night and Shane is in everyone’s focus, his young opponent’s more than most.
It is a publicity dream, which required no extra hype, for Pat McCrory as the second session of the VIS Security Solutions Ulster Seniors captured press and public attention. It is again standing room only.
First night young McGuigan rattled in the hard straight rights that brought him English ABA Novice title success last season. Holy Trinity’s Terence Garland stood up and fought the distance. James Ferrin of Holy Family lost to a second round stoppage, a big right finishing the fight.
All the while Barry moves with every punch thrown and those taken, a bundle of nervous energy coaching in his son’s corner, anxiously watching and coaxing, before the post-fight requests tumble towards him for autographs, a shake of the famous hands that once ruled the WBA world featherweight division and interviews.

Two down, one to go.
Cathal McCauley of Dungloe stands between Shane and a fresh set of champion pictures and cuttings for the McGuigan family album and history 30 years on from his father winning his first Ulster Senior title the year he went on to capture gold in Canada at the Commonwealth Games.
McCauley is a smart southpaw, doesn’t waste too many punches, has worked the canvas superbly to beat Monkstown’s Michael Bustard 13-3, Ring’s Thomas Duddy 10-6 and and last year’s finalist, Shane McKeown of Sacred Heart Newry, 9-7. As a junior he was a double Irish title winner and international High Performance squad colleague of Athens Olympian Andy Lee.
Two minutes Barry signals as his son fields the next series of questions. Inside the sharp new gym that is home to Dockers ABC the post-fight requests for “a quick word” are dealt with a warm welcome and confidence. Shane continues to deal with the demands on his time with relaxed comfort.
“There was a great atmosphere both nights I boxed. It was brilliant. I love boxing in Ireland,” he says after stopping Ferrin.
“That was my fourth contest in Ireland. I boxed once in Dublin in the Crumlin gym. The other time was in Clones. I won both, stopped the guy in Crumlin and won on a points decision over four rounds in Clones.
“I love everything about boxing and hopefully the final goes well. I am looking forward to it.
“He will be a lot more experienced than me but I am training hard and I’ll be ready.”
McCauley, four years his senior, will contest his first final at this level also. He is Dungloe’s first title prospect outside of heavy, which John Sweeney won last year, since his coach Brendan McCole beat Billy Cowan for the light-welter title 21 years ago. As a teenager he was selected along with Lee to compete at the World Juniors in Cuba but was not able to take up his place.
This week’s title chance is “unexpected” said coach McCole given Cathal’s lack of competition since 2003, adding: “He only came back to training in the last week of January and the night of the finals he will only be back three weeks and three months.
“So basically we were only looking at the Championships as fights to get back on the road again. He’s progressing well though knowing him I’d say he’s 60 percent of what he can be.”
Brendan accepts all that goes with this contest. The spotlight is predictably on it, on young McGuigan, and he hoped that both boys boxing abilities will be the dominating factor, saying: “I know there is a lot of pressure on young McGuigan. I think it is a bit unfair on him but I suppose that’s the way it goes because of his aul’ fella and all the rest of it.
“With the hype I hope that with McGuigan being the big name that people don’t focus on the one man in there, that they see two men in the ring, that people do not get deflected from the fight, judge the two boys, and that at the end of the day boxing would be the winner. It should be a good contest.”

Dalton out to strike a blow for St John’s

Ruairi Dalton has been putting in the hours working the body as the 17-year-old aims to qualify for the European and World Juniors later this year.
His club, Belfast outfit St John’s, are in the frame for a major breakthrough this week, first of all with their teenage flyweight bidding to make history at the Ulster Senior finals.
“We are only on the go four years and it would be a brilliant achievement if Ruairi could bring senior success to St John’s on Thursday night when he takes on defending champion Jamie Conlan of St John Bosco,” said coach Frankie McCourt.
Based in small premises at Rockmount Street off the Falls Road, the club was formed only four years ago. They have a claim to being the smallest club in Ireland, working off limited space generously provided by the local church and youth club and without any help from sponsorship or funding.
It hasn’t been easy, said McCourt, to develop the young boxing prospects of the area along with fellow coaches Damien McConville and Mark Rea. But that hasn’t stopped them reaching finals at every level from Boy 1 to senior, with Dalton having qualified for this year’s Irish Senior final against Shane Cox.
“The Irish final was a great experience for Ruairi. He showed he had all the skills, the only thing missing was a bit more strength and that is something he has worked very hard at this year to develop. He is making great progress and learned a lot from competing also in the Olympic box offs against Conor Aherne recently,” said McCourt.
His abilities will pose a challenge for Conlan who is going for a third Ulster win.
A more experienced and mature boxer, Conlan is the favourite, but coach McCourt says Dalton’s international exposure, having fought at the last two European Cadet Championships, and his efforts at the Irish Seniors makes for a good final.
“He has come up through the ranks of the High Performance. I definitely expect this to be a good final. Jamie is a real good boy and the favourite, but Ruairi is well prepared for this, is coming on all the time, and Jamie is going to have to be at his best for this,” he said.
“Ruairi will make it difficult for him to defend his title. He’s been working a lot on strength and conditioning and I think he’s in with a good chance. He will be there to win it but the main priorities for Ruairi this year are the European Juniors at the end of the summer and hopefully the World Juniors in Mexico in October.
“It is a chance for the club to win its first senior title. If that happens it would be fantastic. David Walsh and Padraig McCrory were unlucky earlier in the Championships.
“There’s nothing between the three of them really but Thursday night is Ruairi’s night and hopefully it will go well.”

ADDED SPICE TO SENIORS
India in 2010. The next Commonwealth Games will be staged there. For the latest wave of young Ulster prospects, spearheaded by Thursday’s rival lightweight finalists Anthony Cacace and Stephen Donnelly, winning places on Northern Ireland’s squad is one long-term goal adding spice to this week’s Senior title matches. Council president Pat McCrory has been impressed with the quality of talent making its mark.
“We have a lot of very good youngsters coming through and that’s been probably the most encouraging thing about these Seniors. It’s been a great six months with two Ulster boxers qualifying for the Beijing Olympics. It’s been standing room only so far. Obviously young Shane McGuigan has generated great interest and we’re set for finals night to be completely sold out,” Pat said.

THURSDAY APRIL 24 FINALS
VIS Security Solutions Ulster Senior Championships Andersonstown Leisure Centre, Belfast, 7.45pm
Light-fly: 48kg: (**Denotes 2007 champion)**Paddy Barnes (Holy Family, Belfast) Walkover
Fly: 51kg: **Jamie Conlan (St John Bosco, Belfast) v Ruairi Dalton (St John's)    
Bantam: 54kg: Tyrone McCullagh (Illies GG) v **Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata)
Feather: 57kg: Carl Frampton (Midland/White City) v Eamon Finnegan (Oliver Plunkett)
Light: 60kg: **Anthony Cacace (Holy Trinity) v **Stephen Donnelly (All Saints, Ballymena)
Light-welter: 64kg: Patrick Gallagher (Gleann) v Patrick Murphy (Sacred Heart, Newry)
Welter: 69kg: Shane McGuigan (Clones) v Cathal McCauley (Dungloe)         
Middle: 75kg: **Eamon O’Kane (Immaculata) v Martin Lynch (Illies Golden Gloves, Donegal)
Light-heavy: 81kg: Paul Moffett (Abbey) v Thomas McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett
Heavy: 91kg: John Paul Reah (St John Bosco, Belfast) v Shane Curran (Enniskillen)
Super-heavy: 91+kg: **Cathal McMonagle (Holy Trinity) WO

Hot prospects poised to fire

CAUL-ING CARD: Cathal McCauley will hope to put a spanner in the works of Shane McGuigan when the pair clash in tonight’s tasty looking 69Kg decider in the Ulster Senior Championship finals at the Andersonstown Leisure Centre. Picture: Colm O’Reilly

60kg: Anthony Cacace v Stephen Donnelly
Two of the hottest prospects being groomed for Northern Ireland’s medal challenge for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India, and the London Olympics two years later, go head-to-head for lightweight title bragging rights.
Before a punch was thrown these two predicted plenty of sparks. Cacace, the defending champion, promised this would be “the division to watch” in the Ulster Championship box-offs and fellow teenager Donnelly confidently predicted potential for a “thrilling final”.
Both now aim to deliver on that and, arguably, this could be the fight of the night away from the obvious publicity profile surrounding Shane McGuigan’s quest for a first senior title to emulate his famous father’s triumph 30 years ago.
Mickey Hawkins has tailored Cacace’s challenge for back-to-back titles in only his second season at senior. Since his 2007 final win over Ring’s Kevin Doherty, won by a nine-point margin, Cacace has switched to Holy Trinity from Oliver Plunkett.
There hasn’t been too many apart from middleweight kingpin Eamonn O’Kane that have successfully retained their title having transferred clubs, but certainly Cacace has all the ability, the range of boxing style, to do so.
He aggressively took the semi-final fight to Holy Family’s Dublin signing Sonny Upton, had him down twice, connecting cleanly time and again to ease to victory and conceded just one scoring punch. Donnelly is expected to prove a much more awkward, elusive and skilled customer.
A slick counter-puncher when it suits him, the Gerry Hamill-trained All Saints boxer is seeking to win back-to-back Ulster titles too, but at different weights. He earned the ‘Best Boxer’ award last year for the quality of his performances in winning the featherweight crown at his first attempt.
At 19 Donnelly is gearing himself, like Cacace, to make the Commonwealth Games team for India in 2010 and the 2012 Olympics. He was too sharp and tricky for Derry’s John Cooley when winning feather and put down an impressive marker last week with a 15-4 semi-final win over Barry McCafferty of St John Bosco. ?
The attack and counter-boxing duel is a fascinating one and should live up to expectations to produce a memorable decider, with Cacace taken to have just enough.

51kg: Jamie Conlan v Ruairi Dalton
When the St John Bosco club pinned their hopes of a first senior title since 1991 on Conlan, then a light-flyweight, he starred at the Ulster Hall, followed up with a flyweight win over Immaculata’s Michael Kelly, and goes in against top-rated prospect Dalton as defending champion.
Dalton, boxing out of Belfast outfit St John’s, fast-tracked his senior development by qualifying for January’s Irish final against Gorey’s Shane Cox. A fine effort fell short by two scoring punches. Also competed at the Olympic box-offs against Conor Ahern and proved too aggressive, accurate and quick for the ‘Mac’s Christopher Rice in the semi-finals winning by third round retirement.
Conlan sharpened up with a tough 29-20 win over Dockers’ Neil Walker. With numerous Ulster Senior finals under his belt, Conlan is tipped in most quarters to take the honours, but Dalton’s progress makes for a potential firecracker.

54kg: Tyrone McCullagh v Ryan Lindberg
Lindberg hasn’t looked back since wins over two of tonight’s finalists, Conlon and Frampton, brought flyweight glory at the 2006 Ulster Senior finals. Last season, he moved successfully up to bantam and scored an impressive title win over Marc McCullough. A medalist at the Croatian and Finnish Multi-Nations, his fast hands and ability to keep the computer-scoring system moving will pose the Donegal teenager a demanding test.
Two years ago, McCullagh caught the eye in one of the support contests that the Ulster Council arrange on finals night to promote up- and-coming talent. It is a big ask for the Illies Golden Gloves prospect to catch the eye of the judges often enough on his return, given this bantam final was a straight two-way fight.
With no prelim tests the 17-year-old, who has chalked up wins for Ireland this season, will look to bring forward the excellent skills that claimed Irish intermediate success in December against Christopher Rice. Prepared for this by winning gold at a Multi-Nations tournament, beating French, England and German opposition.
Lindberg (above) went straight to the final also but previous experience suggests he can make it three wins in-a-row. McCullagh’s progression of late makes for a very interesting contest.

57kg: Carl Frampton v Eamonn Finnegan
AT last summer’s EU Championships in Dublin, history for Irish boxing was created by Frampton when the Midland/White City feather defeated Denis Zabins of Latvia. It secured at least a bronze medal – Ireland’s first senior medal at European level won in Dublin for 60 years. Frampton went on to take silver after a final box-off with Kledafi Djelkhir of France.
Frampton, a losing flyweight finalist to Ryan Lindberg at the 2006 box-offs, steadily turned up the heat to defeat Cairn Lodge’s Marc McCullough by four points in his semi-final. He managed to press the last two rounds to dominate with body and head shots, generally hooks, to win 11-7.
Finnegan, who lost the Feb ’05 bantam title match to Abbey’s Shaun McKimm, came through an excellent quarter-final contest with Oliver Plunkett clubmate Tyrone McKenna, but received a walkover in the semis when last season’s finalist John Cooley (St Joseph’s, Derry) withdrew. Frampton’s international experience and ability to off load fast, accurate attacks claims the favourites’ tag here.

64kg: Patrick Gallagher v Patrick Murphy
One of Ulster’s leading youths two years ago, Gallagher claimed Irish Youth 2 success at 63kgs against Phibsboro’s Jake Hanney and reached the semi-finals of the U19 Irish Championships in 2006 also, before going out to Athy’s John Joe Joyce. He carries the hopes of Gleann ABC for a first title at the Ulster Seniors after seeing off Dockers’ James McDonagh last week.
Sacred Heart, Newry have been knocking on the door of Ulster success at senior level for a few years. Martin Mallon was denied heavyweight glory in 2005 by Sligo’s Alan Reynolds (Dockers) and last year Shane McKeown just missed out at welter. Murphy (above) progressed at the expense of Ring’s experienced Kevin Doherty, a lightweight finalist in ’07, after his quarter-final bout against Dungloe’s Shaun McShane did not take place. A bit of history in the making for one or other of the club with Gallagher slight favourite.

69kg: Shane McGuigan v Cathal McCauley
In 1978, young McGuigan’s father Barry won an Ulster Senior title at his first attempt. Commonwealth Games gold followed at Edmonton.
Fighting out of Clones ABC, 30 years on, McGuigan junior is poised to remarkably emulate his dad’s debut success.
A novice senior ABA winner at last season’s English Championships, the past week has created terrific interest in the Championships with McGuigan’s challenge very much centre of attention for media and spectators alike.
But if there’s pressure around or on him, it hasn’t shown. He has coped admirably with the publicity and, most importantly, the challenges posed by his fellow welterweights.
Too accurate for Holy Trinity’s Terence Garland, winning 27-5, he unleashed a great straight right to end his semi-final bout with Holy Family’s James Ferrin 60 seconds into round two.
The steep learning curve continues against McCauley who had to pick himself off the canvas against Shane McKeown (Sacred Heart Newry) in his third contest of last week’s prelims. Dungloe’s former two-time Irish junior champion shaded it by two points.
A strong southpaw, clever and not prone to wasting too many punches, McCauley will know enough about McGuigan’s right hand to try and stay away from it. The power McGuigan can deliver with it appears to hold the key. He is taken to finish what he started in winning fashion.

75kg: Eamonn O’Kane v Martin Lynch
IT may not have started too convincingly for Immaculata’s defending champion O’Kane, fortunate to get by the rival he edged out in last year’s final, TJ Hamill, but O’Kane certainly stepped up his game in the semi-finals to overpower Twintown’s Stephen O’Reilly.
A sixth title is now in his sights and on the semi-final showing of Lynch, who fights out of the Illies Golden Gloves club in Donegal, the champion will have to raise his performance a notch or two more.
Lynch’s main concern after his win over well fancied Padraig McCrory of St John’s was a nick under his left eye.
He may hope that doesn’t influence what could be a tremendous contest.
O’Kane’s physical strength and ability to tie opponents up will pose a very demanding test.
His experience of this occasion is an advantage and id his work continues to intensity and improve it will take a massive performance from Lynch to stay in touch. Lynch’s accuracy impressed against McCrory and an interesting battle is on the cards. O’Kane has had many close finals over the year and this looks like it could be another.

81kg: Paul Moffett v Thomas McCarthy
Oliver Plunkett’s highly-rated teenager reached the final of the European Cadet Championships last year, starred at intermediate level, had success at Irish U19 and claimed a victory at the Presidents Cup in Azerbaijan. McCarthy has been marked out as a top young talent to watch for for some years. He progressed past Monkstown’s Stephen Ward while Abbey ABC’s Moffett, very experienced, a finalist back in 2005 at middleweight against Eamonn O’Kane, negotiated a semi-final with last year’s finalist and former champion Stephen Martin (St John Bosco).
Youth, at just 17, against senior experience with the highly regarded skills, power and international seasoning of McCarthy, at under-age levels, favoured to come through.

91kg: John Paul Reah v Shane Curran
There was not too much wrong with Reah quarter-final introduction. A strong performance, good movement and range of boxing proved too good for Ligoniel’s Damien Ramsey.
The St John Bosco heavyweight advanced 21-7. In Curran he faces a very experienced and capable opponent who is back in the final for the first time in three years.
Curran won one of the best prelims at the weight witnessed at the Dockers for a long time when scored a 14-13 winner over his Enniskillen club mate Shaun Crudden. It could just as easily have finished in Crudden’s favour.
In 2005 he lost out in the decider by three points to Keady's Patrick Smith and in ’06, when with Holy Trinity, went out in the quarters to the Dockers Sligo import Alan Reynolds. Success is overdue but on Reah's semi-final effort Bosco’s hopeful is a solid each-way chance.

Supporters blast scoring as McGuigan seals title

A CLIP ROUND THE EAR: Tyrone McCullagh (left) takes a right to the side of the head from Ryan Lindberg during their bout at VIS Ulster Senior Championship Finals at the Andersonstown Leisure Centre last night. Picture: Colm O’Reilly

JEERS drowned out the cheers as Shane McGuigan was handed a highly controversial 13-point margin of decidedly uneasy victory over piston-punching Donegal warrior Cathal McCauley in last night’s Ulster senior welterweight title clash.
The shine on a history-making win for the son of former world featherweight champion, ‘Clones Cyclone’ Barry, 30 years after his father won his first senior title at his first attempt, was given blow-torch treatment by the majority of the sell-out arena.
Boos rang out as the decision was announced. It was a shame a fantastic slugfest ended on such an atmospheric note, for the contest was a power-packed thriller.
The two stood and traded relentlessly. After going in 5-1 down at the end of the first session, McCauley expended huge energy in the next to repeatedly drive Clones ABC’s hopeful back, closing the margin to 9-7.
McGuigan’s dangerous right found its range on occasions, his body work tested McCauley’s fitness for the fight, but the Dungloe man kept on coming and while he looked to be tiring in the third there seemed nothing in it.
The judges scoring the red and blue computer buttons did not see it as close as the excited supporters did, giving McCauley just two clean punches in the third.
Seven to McGuigan was generous and opened up a 16-9 lead with two minutes left.
Both showed great heart and determination down the stretch, McGuigan showing the scars of a serious war as a damaged nose smeared blood across his face, McCauley keeping the punches, going consistently.
It was fast and furious all the way to the bell.
It looked too close to call, Shane maybe, Cathal possibly, but the 26-13 score was remarkable.
That did not do either boxer justice, the closeness of the contest and certainly fans vented their disapproval.
It was harsh to jeer young McGuigan as he accepted his trophy, but he will surely believe the fight was not a 13-point fight.

Carl Frampton (Midland/White City), silver medallist at the EU Championships last summer and a former Ulster champion at bantam and feather, outclassed Oliver Plunkett’s Eamonn Finnegan winning by third round 20 point score rule.

Flyweight champion Jamie Conlan of Belfast’s St John Bosco club had no such comfort zone as he was forced to scrape first bell to last by Ruairi Dalton of city rivals St John’s, who was aiming for the young Falls Road club’s first senior success.
Dalton lost narrowly to Gorey’s Shane Cox in the Irish Senior flyweight final in January and just missed out to Conlan 22-21.
Three warnings for holding were issued in the fourth round, two to Conlan, before the battle finished in a blizzard of blows toe-to-toe. Dalton was unlucky to be shaded for the title.

Lindberg vows to go for four
RYAN Lindberg promised to deliver more of the same next year after the 19-year-old sports science student produced another winning formula last night for a hat-trick of Ulster titles.
Immaculata’s classy bantam was too sharp for promising Illies Golden Gloves teenage prospect Tyrone McCullagh, finishing with 10 points in hand (14-4).
“They say they always come in threes and I am very happy to have made it three in-a-row,” said Ryan, who will now try to catch up on his HND course studies before heading to France with Ireland’s High Performance squad.
He won impressively, good defence taking much of McCullagh’s busy work on gloves and forearms. The Donegal lad gave it his all but didn’t get too many clean shots on.
Lindberg rates Tyrone one for the future and praised his rival saying: “He made me work hard for the four rounds. He’s very, very good and I think he’s going to be the next best thing. He is only 17 and I was told not to take him for granted.
“I was 17 my first year winning it and I knew he had the beatings of me but I worked hard for it and I was told before the third round to block and hit and I did that and that was successful for me. I’m very happy with three in-a-row but I want more.”

New ideas needed

THE DECISION: Shane McGuigan holds his hands aloft after gaining a controversial points decision over Cathal McCauley in the welterweight final in the Ulster Senior Boxing Championships in the Andersonstown Leisure Centre Picture: Brendan Murphy

Every picture tells a story and Brendan Murphy’s shot above speaks volumes. This panoramic image captured perfectly a highly-controversial event that will long be spoken of by amateur boxing fans in Ireland.
To set the scene: a packed Andersonstown Leisure Centre in west Belfast was holding its breath in anticipation of the result of an absorbing, full-blooded Ulster Senior Championship final battle.
Two super-fit young gladiators, Shane McGuigan (Clones) and Cathal McCauley (Dungloe), had just fought their hearts out to be crowned Ulster welterweight king.
Nothing less than a richly-deserved standing ovation for both boxers would surely follow.
Sadly not.
The freeze-frame pic above was snapped as MC Jim Noonan declared: “Ulster Senior welterweight champion and holder of the McGeough Cup for 2008 by a computer score of 26-13: Shane McGuigan!’’
The reaction of the Andersonstown crowd is strikingly captured in Brendan Murphy’s snapshot of time.
Only a handful of people raised their hands in jubilation at the verdict.
Instead of warm applause, feelings of stunned disbelief flooded through the hall. These were swiftly followed by a deluge of jeers and boos, at a decibel level seldom heard even in the controversial world of amateur boxing and computer scoring.
For McGuigan, the euphoria of victory will have been greatly tempered by the volatile reaction of the crowd. That is regrettable. His efforts and those of his valiant and sporting opponent McCauley deserved much, much better.
Much has been written, discussed or shouted in anger of this controversial welterweight decision.
But the main reason for the outpouring of disapproval was without doubt the margin of victory.
A score of 26-13 is difficult to comprehend given the intensity and, at-times, toe-to-toe nature of this crunching encounter.
Had McGuigan or McCauley been handed a 26-24 verdict I seriously doubt if the outburst would have been so vociferous.
So did the judges get it right, what went wrong, and what can be done to prevent such controversial decisions happening again?
The answer to the first two parts of the question boil down, as always in boxing, to a matter of opinion.
The answer to the third section of the question is much more of a conundrum.
In my book, it was a toss-up fight. In my opinion, McCauley just shaded a ‘Beezer’ scrap.
Computer scoring is also a matter of opinion.
Unlike the old impression judging verdict, in computer scoring it’s all about registering clean blows, blows landed with sufficient force on the target area.
And where it says ‘sufficient force’ is where opinion, and differences of it, enter into the equation.
More often that not good inside body work, as displayed time and time again in the contest by southpaw McCauley, does not earn scoring points.
So throwing fusillades of punches at close quarters is a largely fruitless exercise.
That is the downside of computer boxing but one that coaches, if not spectators, are well aware of.
Judges seated around the ring also have different takes of a bout leading to variations in individual hits.
There’s no doubt that the computer judging system has its faults.
But what’s the alternative?
Those who hark back to the ‘good old days’ of impression judges must have short memories. The ‘good old days’ were littered with very bad decisions right across the board from local to Olympic level.
The vast majority of results now are correct, if the scoring margins are at times strange.
There’s no doubt the credibility of the sport took a battering with the McGuigan/McCauley margin of error following on from an earlier uproar surrounding the TJ Hamill/Eamonn O’Kane bout.
That’s a shame because this was a cracking Ulster Seniors.
Controversy will always go hand in glove with boxing, but seeking to improve and fine-tune the computer scoring system, and equally importantly, its operators is the way ahead.
What’s needed now is initiative and invention, not a wistful look back at a ‘golden age’ that never existed.