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Defeated McCarthy eyeing re-match with Egan

Belfast Telegraph

Monday, 23 February 2009

Tommy McCarthy says he is relishing a re-match with Olympic silver medallist Ken Egan.

 

Teenager McCarthy's dream of winning an Irish title the first attempt came unstuck at the hands of Egan at the National Stadium on Friday night when the Neilstown man claimed a record ninth consecutive title.

But Oliver Plunkett 18-year-old McCarthy was defiantly optimistic about the future and believes that the experience of defeat will only make him stronger.

McCarthy said: "To be honest I think nerves hurt me a lot and that normally doesn't happen with me. But once I was going out to box I could feel it and I think it made me a bit tentative in the fight.

"He was good, don't get me wrong, but not as good as I was expecting from an Olympic silver medallist.

"But I can't wait to face him again and hopefully I'll beat him in one or two years time. I can only learn from this experience. It was annoying though that I was scoring but not getting the points."

The shock of the night came at light-welterweight when Olympian John Joe Joyce was sensationally stopped by 19-year-old Dubliner Phil Sutcliffe in the first round. All the Irish champions are now looking ahead to boxing against the USA on Friday night back at the Stadium and the two days later in Athy.

 

irishtimes.com

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Egan takes ninth but Joyce takes the count

JOHNNY WATTERSON at the National Stadium

 

BOXING: A RECORD ninth Irish title over all and an unmatched seven light heavyweight belts, what more could Ken Egan do last night to illuminate the National Stadium.

The Neilstown fighter, amateur boxing’s leading light since his silver medal win in Beijing last summer, left yet another mark on the sport in his 9-5 defeat of World Youth bronze medallist Thomas McCarthy in front of a capacity 2,000 crowd.

The 27-year-old was controlled and precise as he moved the teenage fighter around the ring, building from a slow start to ultimately dominate the fight. Egan was a modest 2-0 up after the first round and smouldering rather than tearing up his callow Oliver Plunkett BC opponent.

The younger man was game and willing, but Egan’s experience told as he marched him around the ring into the corners, going 6-2 ahead after the second round and finally winning 9-5 with both fighters warned by the referee during the bout.

It was far from vintage Egan and he knew it, but more than adequate to set the new benchmark in just his second competitive fight since coming home from China.

He now builds up for next week’s international against America, who are reputedly travelling with their Olympic team. He has also the bout on the under card of Bernard Dunne’s professional World Championship Challenge in the O2 Arena on March 22nd to consider, where women’s World Champion Katie Taylor is also scheduled to appear.

Egan is still hoping to attract Xiaoping Zhang to Dublin, the Chinese fighter who beat him to the gold medal in the Olympic final.

“I’m still a bit stale there but working away,” said Egan afterwards. “The big one now is in March and I’m hoping it’s going to be the Chinese guy. We’re still not sure about that yet. But he’s (McCarthy) a good lad. He boxed well tonight. I always knew he had a bit of a talent from when he went to the world juniors.”

The shock of the night, however, was reserved for another Olympian – John Joe Joyce. The Beijing graduate from the St Michael’s Club in Athy met Crumlin’s Philip Sutcliffe in the 64Kg class. The Olympic quarter-finalist, seeking his third successive title, was caught with a left and put down in the first round and simply didn’t recover.

Sutcliffe was almost as surprised as the rest of the crowd as Joyce looked in terrible difficulty when he returned to his feet. Another flurry and it was clear the champion had been badly rattled and it was then that the referee stepped in to stop the contest.

The other surprises of the night were 18-year-old southpaw Declan Geraghty’s 8-7 win over the four times champion Conor Ahern at flyweight, and Carl Frampton’s defeat of four times champion David Oliver Joyce (at whose wedding Frampton was recently guest of honour) at featherweight.

Bantamweight John Joe Nevin put on the gala performance of the evening. The Olympian and European Union gold medallist earned his second title as he picked off the younger Ryan Lindberg at will.

Nevin’s balance, punching power and feint occasionally drew gasps from the crowd as he worked from a 5-0 score after the first round to take Lindberg on a rather steep learning curve, finally winning 15-1 in the ascendant.

“If I’d boxed in the Olympics like that who knows what would have happened,” said Nevin afterwards. How right he was.

A pragmatic decision was taken by the brothers Joe and David Joyce in the 91kg+ division, when 18-year-old Joe granted David the super heavyweight title.

Acknowledging that boxing is not quite the same as tennis the brothers from Moate did not consider it a good idea to follow in the footsteps of tennis sisters Serena and Venus Williams, who have played each other in no fewer than seven Grand Slam finals, including three times at Wimbledon.

 

IRISHTIMES.COM

Saturday, February 21, 2009

High performers still travelling an ambitious path

BOXING: Johnny Watterson on how after failing to capitalise on Carruth's gold in 1992, boxing is kicking on from Beijing.

 

THE National Stadium was characteristically unvarnished last night, unassuming. From the auditorium down to the cold backrooms, where the boxers were warming up, you could hear the hiss of expiring air as they hit pads and moments later emerged in red or blue vests, teenagers, young men, foreheads beaded.

Some looked solemnly fearful, others walked to the ring with a swagger of intent, their adrenalin barely contained and the ones who had been there before, like eight-times champion Ken Egan, moved to the ropes with an air of menace, purposeful, proud achievers. The common hope was this would be their night, their starting point for the dream three of them lived last summer in Beijing.

Entries in the National Championships this year were up from 67 to over 100. Aspiring Egan-like figures looked at the 17 major international medals the sport has won in senior and junior competition over the last 12 months and sought to become part of it all. From Beijing, Egan, Paddy Barnes and Darren Sutherland brought belief.

“Up to over a 100 this year, definitely it’s a good reflection,” says national coach Billy Walsh. “Everybody felt out there that they could do it. So, they’ve had a go.”

For amateur boxers the ordinariness of the Stadium, its homely feel and its dusty corners represents the old game and traditional values. But of all of Ireland’s Olympic and World Championship sports, boxing has best kept pace with modern demands.

Old values live, old methods die. Performance now is a function of work ethic, professional coaching, personal development of the fighters and inclusiveness.

“Some times we’re inclined to play five-a-side soccer in the gym that often turns into rugby,” says Walsh. “I look at whose playing and we’ve settlers, travellers, black, white, Catholic and Protestant. In that gym we live together, room together. We travel the world together and we support each other. We haven’t had any Muslims yet but they’re on the way and we’ll welcome them.”

Gary Keegan, who put the high performance programmes together, understood early on that weak personalities, those who cannot respect themselves or others, do not make medal-winning prospects. He saw that development of the person would serve performance and so they put a high value on that side of the grooming process.

“We have quite a lot of travellers in boxing,” says Keegan. “Maybe that says something of our sport and the equality in our sport. You cannot run a programme without respect for everyone. We have never, ever, had an issue that concerned me.

“When I heard (traveller) John Joe Joyce being interviewed in Beijing, I thought he stood above many of the others in his sportsmanship, how articulate he was and the responsibility he took after just missing out on a medal.”

That wasn’t reflected in Ireland. John Joe Nevin’s welcome home was a succession of slammed hotel doors. The philosophy of the team with regard to travellers had yet to move beyond boxing.

“It should have been respected when they came back. They should have been treated better,” says Keegan with a tinge of regret in his voice. “But no, I don’t think it has tainted what they achieved. They are not crusading for anyone. They are boxers. That’s what they are.”

There was no fuss made in the gym. The two fighters came to training as they always did. There was no change of attitude, little obvious hurt. “Maybe that says something about the prejudice they regularly face,” adds Keegan.

Despite that and the internal wrangling that denied Keegan Olympic accreditation and forced him to be a distant observer in China, the feeling as boxing moves towards 2012 is overwhelmingly positive.

Anecdotally, kids are going to gyms, and there are 50 in the high-performance program. The sport is determined not to let them slip through as they did after Michael Carruth’s gold medal and Wayne McCullough’s silver in 1992. After Barcelona there was Nicolas Cruz and little else. The sport couldn’t capitalise on the wave of interest.

There are no centres of excellence decorating the provinces and in the current economic climate they are unlikely to pop up before London. But the structures that put boxers on podiums last summer are in place and evolving. They take their cue from the great Cuban coaches, who always believed Cuba should be the hardest graduation school. So Ireland has become.

“See that building,” says Egan, pointing to a gym behind the National Stadium. “It’s all professional now. Gary put it all in place. We’ve dieticians, physiotherapists, coaches and we’ve great connections with the Russians, French, Germans.

“We’re the only team invited over by the Russians. It’s a great thing. We go over there and we’re mixing with the top country in the world. I remember back in 2002-03 we used to go to Poland to train. We don’t go there any more because it’s no test for us. The Russians now are better than the Cubans.”

Egan, himself, is another encouraging factor. His high profile, his looks, roguish twinkle and some leery photographs splashed around the tabloids have not been badly received. Whatever about the veracity of the stories the impression they have left is a healthy 27-year-old from Neilstown can be a leader and a winner. The popularity of a sport can swing on such public notions.

Egan tells a story of the day he arrived home after China. “A man came up from the country, came to my local, the day I came back (from Beijing) on the Tuesday,” he says. “I didn’t think it would be as big a deal.

“I always wanted to represent my country in the Games and to win a medal was super. But the affect it had on that man . . . I put the medal in his hand and the tears started, he became very emotional . . . I sent him down a signed shirt afterwards.

“He was in hospital then and his daughter brought in the T-shirt to him and he broke down crying again. He actually rang the house, was talking to my mother, you know ‘thanks very much’ and all that . . . it’s nice to be able to touch someone like that.”

Sentiment is all very well but Keegan’s plans, now being put into action by Walsh, Jim Moore and former Georgian champion Zaur Antia will continue. Egan’s was the fourth silver of 12 Olympic medals won since the State was founded, after John McNally (1952), Fred Tiedt (1956) and Wayne McCullough (1992). The fact he remained amateur was pivotal. All but four of the 12 Olympic medal winners turned professional. Egan wavered but like Tony Byrne, Jim McCourt and Barnes, turned his back.

“It was significant for him to stay amateur,” says Keegan. “It took us nearly six years to develop that performance culture. It would not take so much to tear it down.

“In the education of the boxers we looked at the professional game. We painted a picture that professionalism wasn’t for them. They didn’t listen to us. So, we changed tack. We made the high-performance programme the most amazing place to be. We made it so they could make a career here. It wasn’t only Ken, but four amateurs stayed. Darren was always going to turn professional even before Beijing.

“But for Ken now the silver medal will never be diminished. The silver medal would have been forgotten about if he’d turned pro.”

Walsh sees Egan now as a leader, a touchstone. “They see their team-mates winning, they train side by side and they believe they can do it,” says Walsh.

The mantra in the sport is there is no hierarchy, no untouchables. Respecting achievement is a different thing. Walsh sees Egan some day taking over his job as coach. He’s content to paint that picture of the future, while the fighter seems not distracted from that career path either.

“Hopefully, I can be there in 2012 and be the only Olympian to win two medals,” says Egan. “That’s my goal. I see myself as a role model. I see myself as the captain of the team for the foreseeable future. I feel I’m up to that role and I’m good enough for that role. I’ve shown it in Beijing. Hopefully I will still be part of the team, leading kids on and picking out the good ones.”

That is a difficult science. Coming out of the 2007 World Championships, Barnes was the only boxer qualified for the Olympics after the team had arrived in Chicago with six possibles on the launch pad. They came home and the support staff were sent on holidays to reflect, the boxers debriefed by an independent brought in from Britain. “If you keep pushing all the time, you will make mistakes. The big guns just didn’t manage the responsibility too well,” says Keegan. “But there is a gut feeling, an intuition you get if you stick close.”

He says people must not under-estimate what it takes to put a system in place but that post-Beijing, boxing is in a better place than post-Athens. But he also strikes a note of caution in that “our own people must realise what we have.”

No other Irish sport outside swimming has ever won three Olympic medals in one Olympic Games. No other Irish sport has put 12 athletes on Olympic podiums. No other Irish sport has ever had two travellers in a five-man Olympic team. Perhaps soon Ireland will realise what it has.

 

Roll of honour

EU Championships 2008, Poland: John Joe Nevin – gold; David Oliver Joyce – gold; Darren Sutherland – gold; Ken Egan – gold; Paddy Barnes – silver; Con Sheehan – silver

World Youth Championships 2008, Mexico: Ray Moylett – gold; Jamie Kavanagh – silver; Thomas McCarthy – bronze; David Joe Joyce – bronze

European Championships 2008, Britain: Eamonn O’Kane – bronze; John Joe Joyce – bronze; Ross Hickey – bronze

Women’s World Championships 2008, China: Katie Taylor – gold

Olympic Games 2008, China: Ken Egan – gold; Paddy Barnes – bronze; Darren Sutherland – bronze

 

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times

 

Independent.ie

Boxing: Egan rules ring to make history

By Thomas Myler

Saturday February 21 2009

BEIJING Olympics silver medallist Kenneth Egan is still Ireland's No 1 light heavyweight.

The talented 27-year-old Dubliner from the Neilstown club had a decisive 9-5 win over Belfast's Thomas McCarthy, who boxes in the colours of the Oliver Plunkett club before a near capacity crowd of 2,000 at the National Stadium in Dublin.

In winning, Egan smashed two existing records to become the first boxer to win nine consecutive Irish senior titles, as well as the first to win seven light heavyweight cups.

Egan, who also held the EU championship, won the opening round 2-0 on his sharper boxing, catching McCarthy coming in with his southpaw right jab and follow through left hooks to the head and body.

McCarthy often got through with long rights to the head, particularly in a thrilling second round, but the Neilstown boxer was moving well and was able to counterpunch sharply to take a 6-2 lead after the second round.

McCarthy made late surge in the third round, urged on by his many supporters, and succeeded in driving Egan back, but the champion's greater experience came to the fore and Egan went on to gain a popular decision.

Two titles at opposite ends of the weight divisions were decided without a punch being tossed, with Belfast light flyweight Paddy Barnes and

His fellow Olympian John Joe Joyce was less fortunate, however, after suffering a stunning knock-out to Crumlin's Philip Sutcliffe in the 91kg decider.

Westmeath super heavyweight David Joyce getting walkovers.

Barnes, a bronze medallist in Beijing, from Holy Family club, kept his title as there were no other competitors in the division. He has now been light flyweight champion for the past three years. David Joyce, one of a well-known boxing family, also had an easy passage. A member of the Moate BC, he was drawn in the final against his brother Joe, and rather go into the ring together, Joe conceded the opportunity, leaving David the new champion.

Dublin flyweight Conor Ahern failed to win back the title he held in 2006 and 2007 when he was out-pointed by Dublin Docklands star Declan Geraghty 8-7.

Ahern, from the Baldoyle club, had a good last round when he caught Geraghty with some strong left hooks but the Dublin Docklands boxer was moved well at the time and their effect was minimised.

In the bantamweight final, Cavan's John Joe Nevin had an easy 15-1 success over Belfast's Ryan Lindbergh from the Immaculata club. Lindbergh took a count in the final round from a solid right to the chin.

 

Meanwhile, middleweight contender John Duddy is predicting "fireworks" against Matt Vanda tonight but is determined not to go looking for a brawl. The New York-based Irishman returns to Madison Square Garden for the first time since seeing a world-title shot against Kelly Pavlik go up in flames after a terrible performance against Walid Smichet a year ago.

Duddy (25-0, 17 KOs) won that fight last February 23 on a split decision but suffered a bad cut above his left eye. He has since changed trainers and parted company with the manager and promoter he had been with since turning professional in 2003 but has fought just once in the interim, with new handler Pat Burns in his corner, and looked far more convincing and controlled in a decision win over Charles Howe last summer.

Now he is looking to continue in that vein as he bids to get past Vanda (39-8, 22 KOs) in the co-feature event on the Miguel Cotto-Michael Jennings fight for the vacant WBO welterweight title.

"I'm looking to carry on what I did against Charles Howe -- using my brain, getting that live or die attitude out of me," Duddy said.

- Thomas Myler

 

Egan enters record books at the Stadium

RTE Sport

Saturday, 21 February 2009 10:44

 

Ken Egan punched his way into the history books at the Elite National Senior Championships at the National Stadium on Friday night.

But defending champion and 2008 Olympian John Joe Joyce sensationally lost his title after he was knocked down twice by Philip Sutcliffe in the first round of an explosive light welterweight final.
Joyce, a bronze medal winner at the 2008 European Championships who was targeting his fourth title on the trot, went down under a left to the body and was down again moments later before the referee stopped the contest with less than a minute to go to the end of the first.
Egan defeated Belfast light heavyweight Tommy McCarthy to become the only Irish boxer in the 98-year history of the IABA to win nine Irish senior titles in a row.

But 18-year-old McCarthy, a bronze medal winner at the 2008 AIBA World Youth Championships, left his calling card at IABA headquarters and asked a few questions of the Neilstown man, particularly in the second round after he pulled back to within one point at 3-2.
However, the Ulster teenager didn't do himself any favours after receiving a public warning for dropping his head in the second as Egan went 6-2 up.
The Dubliner extended his lead to 7-2 with a sweet left seconds into the third - but also received a public warning before coming out on top courteous of a 9-5 decision.

Meanwhile, birthday boy Carl Frampton is the new Irish featherweight champ after dropping David Oliver Joyce in the second round before forcing the defending champ into a standing count in the third.

A stunning close-range left levelled the bout at 4-4 as Joyce visited the canvas just seconds after he had taken the lead for the first time.

Both boxers were still locked at 4-4 going into the final round. But it was Belfast ace Frampton, who was guest of honour at Joyce's wedding recently, and who celebrates his 22nd birthday today, who ran out a 10-5 winner from the contest.

In the opening bout of the evening, Declan Geraghty claimed his first Irish senior title after out-pointing former champ Conor Ahern 8-7 in a seesaw Dublin flyweight derby.

Both boxers conceded two points apiece after receiving public warnings in the third round of this encounter. However, Geraghty, who was only behind once in the bout, was full value for the win.
John Joe Nevin won his second bantamweight title in a row after taking all three rounds against Belfast's Ryan Lindberg in a repeat of last years semi-final which Nevin also won.
The 2008 Olympian, who was eliminated from the Beijing Games by eventual gold medalist and 2008 AIBA World boxer of the year Badar-Uugan Enkhbat of Mongolia, produced a tour de force to earn a 15-1 verdict.
The Cavan bantamweight was 5-0 up at the end of the first, three rights and two thudding lefts to the head doing the damage as Lindberg's tactics of walking his man down failed to pay off.
Nevin, fighting superbly off the back foot at this stage, extended his lead to 11-0 for the bell at the end of the second before closing out the final round en route to a resounding victory.

Kilkenny middleweight Darren O'Neill landed his first Irish senior title at the fourth time of asking after a fine tactical display of boxing against Donegal prospect Stephen O'Reilly.
O'Reilly edged to within one point of O'Neill in the second, but the Paulstown man extended his advantage in the last round to secure an impressive victory and the vacant Irish 75Kg title.
O'Neill was also presented with the boxer of the tournament award to complete a remarkable double.
Big Tipperary heavyweight Con Sheehan showed the heart of a true champion to retain his 91Kg crown in the face of a furious first-round onslaught from Alan Reynolds, a seven-time Irish senior champion.
The Sligo man, returning to the ring this year after a three-year break from the sport, started at a furious pace but Sheehan matched fire with fire to share the first round 3-3.
The combatants were also tied at the end of the second, but Sheehan produced a composed display in the final round to win his second consecutive Irish belt.

Eric Donovan is back on top of the podium following a thrilling victory over defending lightweight champion Ross Hickey, Donovan emerging victorious 11-7 from another top class three rounder.
Willie McLoughlin had his hand raised in triumph from his all-Donegal welterweight showdown with Cathal McAuley after dropping the Dungloe man in the second. McAuley took a standing count after being felled and the bout was halted by the referee.
Holy Family Belfast light flyweight Paddy Barnes, a bronze medal winner at the Beijing Olympics, was crowned 48Kg champ for the third year in a row after no one entered his weight.
And David Joe Joyce is the new super heavyweight champion after his younger brother Joe granted him a walkover. Both brothers box out of the Moate club in Westmeath.
Sean Horkan, Neil Gough and Brendan Dunne were presented with special merit awards last night in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the sport.

 

Elite National Senior Championships Results
48Kg: Light flyweight) Paddy Barnes (Holy Family) W/O

51Kg: Flyweight) Conor Ahern (Baldoyle) lost to Declan Geraghty (Dublin Docklands) 7-8

54Kg: Bantamweight) John Joe Nevin (Cavan) beat Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata) 15-1

57Kg: Featherweight) David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy) lost to Carl Frampton (Midland) 5-10

60Kg: Lightweight) Ross Hickey (Grangecon) lost to Eric Donovan (St Michael's Athy) 7-11

64Kg: Light welterweight) John Joe Joyce (St Michael's Athy) lost to Philip Sutcliffee (Crumlin) RSC1

69Kg: Welterweight) Willie McLoughlin (Illies Golden Gloves) beat Cathal McAuley (Dungloe) RSC2

75Kg: Middleweight) Stephen O'Reilly (Twintowns) lost to Darren O'Neill (Paulstown) 1-6

81Kg: Light heavyweight) Ken Egan (Neilstown) beat Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett) 9-5

91Kg: Heavyweight) Con Sheehan (Clonmel) beat Alan Reynolds (St Joesphs Sligo) 10-7

91+Kg: Super heavyweight) David Joyce (Moate) W/O
 

Boxer of the Tournament
Darren O'Neill (Paulstown)

 

No problem for bantamweight Nevin

Belfast Telegraph

Saturday, 21 February 2009

 

Olympian John Joe Nevin was simply a class above Immaculata’s Ryan Lindberg as he retained the bantamweight title, 15-1.

 

Nevin, from Cavan, simply danced around the ring, darting in and out to land his clinical blows for which Lindberg had no answer.

Nevin said: “I’m delighted with that performance. If I had boxed like that in the Olympics who knows what would have happened.

“Everything just seemed to come right for me.

“I’m not sure whether it’s the best I’ve boxed but it was one of the best performances.

“Now I’m really looking forward to taking on the Americans next Friday night.

“I feel that the Olympic experience really matured me a lot and there’s a lot more to come.”

There was an upset at flyweight when Conor Ahern, bidding for his fifth Irish title, was edged out by 18-year-old Declan Geraghty.

Geraghty fell to his knees in celebration and when the 8-7 verdict was called out the tears flowed down his cheeks.

Southpaw Geraghty, who was winning his 10th straight Irish title, put his right lead to good use in the opening three minutes and held a 4-2 lead.

After a tame second round he was 4-3 ahead while in the third both men received controversial public warnings.

Ahern desperately tried to bridge the gap but Geraghty managed to stay out of reach to claim victory.

At super-heavyweight, David Joyce was given a walkover as both he and brother Joe from the Moate club unsurprisingly refused to box each other.

 

It’s top marks for boxer Frampton

Belfast Telegraph

Saturday, 21 February 2009

 

OLYMPIC hero Ken Egan made history by claiming his ninth consecutive Irish title in the National Stadium in Dublin but the undoubted star on this historic night was Belfast’s Carl Frampton.

 

Like an angry pitbull Frampton savagely tore into defending featherweight champion David Oliver Joyce and despite a series of body blows not being scored by the judges he triumphed 10-5.

Frampton, a senior flyweight champion in 2005, gave arguably the performance of his career to deny St Michael’s Athy man Joyce a fifth Irish title.

Frampton said: “This means the world to me. I’ve worked so hard for this and to beat a guy with the quality of David Oliver is just fantastic. It means more than the first title because of that.

“I didn’t know how the judges were scoring the fight but I knew that it was close but I thought after the knockdown that I was starting to take control.

“I heard they didn’t score the knockdown and I can’t believe that but I’m just delighted that I got the win.

“Now I can look ahead to fighting the American next week and hopefully this is the start of a big year for me.”

Both men were level at 4-4 going into the final three minutes but Joyce was dazed and Frampton maintained his relentless pressure, forcing the champion to take a count on his way to victory.

Olympic silver medallist Egan outpointed Oliver Plunkett’s Tommy McCarthy 9-5 but it was far from impressive and the 18-year-old Belfast lad showed that he has the class to one day take his light-heavyweight crown.

Egan only managed a 6-2 lead going into the final round thanks to a highly controversial public warning for McCarthy.

Egan was then given a public warning in the third, which helped McCarthy to close the gap but the Dubliner was never truly troubled in the closing stages.

Egan said: “To have won nine Irish senior titles is just incredible. I could never have thought that when I won my first title in 2001. Now I’ll be boxing against America next week and then please God I get the Olympic champion (Zhang Xiaoping). That would be fantastic.

“I felt a bit rusty in there but I came through. Nine titles and I’m still good looking!

“I knew that McCarthy was a good boy. He’s been talking the talk but I think he needs to stop thinking he’s Chuck Norris or something like that and he’ll be alright.”

There was a major shock at light-welterweight when Olympian John Joe Joyce of St

Michael’s Athy was sensationally stopped in the first round by Dubliner Phil Sutcliffe.

Suthcliffe, the son of former European bronze medallist Phil snr, dumped Joyce on the canvas with a peach of a right hook and then a further barrage bundled him to the canvas, leading referee Michael Gallagher to call a halt.

Willie McLoughlin of Illies Golden Gloves stopped Dungloe’s Cathal McCauley in the second round of their all-Ulster clash at welterweight. McLoughlin, who led 1-0 going into the second, let loose with a straight left and right which sent McCauley to the canvas, leading to the stoppage.

In the middleweight decider Stephen O’Reilly of Twin Towns came off second best, going down 6-1 to Paulstown’s Darren O’Neill — named best boxer of the night — in a rather dull affair.

Con Sheehan of Clonmel retained the heavyweight title with a 10-7 victory over former champion Alan Reynolds of St Joseph’s Sligo, after they had been tied at 6-6 going into the final round. St Michael Athy’s Eric Donovan overcame Ross Hickey of Grangecon 11-7 in the lightweight final. Belfast’s Paddy Barnes had a walkover at light-flyweight.

 

Egan on cloud nine after win

Boxing: Elite National Senior Championships
By Bernard O’Neill and Andy Watters
21/02/2009

IRELAND’S Olympic hero Ken Egan punched his way into the history books at the Elite National Senior Championships in the National Stadium in Dublin last night.
Egan defeated Belfast light- heavyweight Tommy McCarthy at IABA headquarters to become the only Irish boxer in the 98-year history of the IABA to win nine Irish senior titles in-a-row.
But 18-year-old McCarthy asked quite a few questions of the Dubliner, particularly in the second round of the 81kg encounter after he pulled back to within one point at 3-2.
However, the Belfast teenager didn’t do himself any favours after receiving a public warning for dropping his head in the second, and Egan went in at the end of the round 6-2 up.
Egan extended his lead to 7-2 with a sweet left seconds into the third round, before he too received a public warning before being handed a 9-5 victory.
Last night’s win sees the reigning European Union champ stake his claim for a place on the Irish team to meet the USA at the National Stadium next Friday.
But, for now, the Neilstown clubman, a silver medal winner at last summer’s Olympics in Beijing, is basking in the limelight of yet another victory at the National Stadium.
He said: “I’m delighted with the win. It is a fantastic feeling to win nine in-a-row here at the National Stadium in front of Irish boxing fans.”
Meanwhile, Belfast’s Carl Frampton is the new Irish featherweight champion after dropping David Oliver Joyce in the second round, before forcing the defending champ into a standing count in the third.
A stunning close-range left levelled the bout at 4-4 and saw Joyce visit the canvas just seconds after he had taken the lead with a flurry of punches in a neutral corner.
Both boxers were still tied at 4-4 going into the final round. But it was Frampton, who was guest of honour at Joyce’s wedding recently, who ran out a 10-5 winner from a top-class contest.
In the opening contest of the evening, Declan Geraghty claimed his first Irish senior title after out-pointing former champion Conor Ahern 8-7 in a see-saw all-Dublin flyweight decider.
John Joe Nevin won his second bantamweight title in-a-row after taking all three rounds against Belfast’s Ryan Lindberg in a repeat of last years semi-final, which Nevin also won.
Holy Family Belfast light-flyweight Paddy Barnes, a bronze medal winner at the Beijing Olympics, was crowned 48Kg champ for the third year in a row after no- one entered his weight.
And David Joe Joyce is the new super-heavyweight champion after his younger brother Joe granted him a walkover. Both box out of the Moate club in Westmeath.
Brendan Dunne, father of Bernard, Neil Gough and Sean Horkan were presented with special merit awards to mark their outstanding contributions to the sport last night.

 

McCarthy relishing Egan showdown

Belfast Telegraph

By David Kelly
Friday, 20 February 2009

Tommy McCarthy faces up to mission impossible in the eyes of many but he is relishing a bout with Ken Egan.

 

Olympic silver medallist Egan aims for a record nine consecutive Irish titles in the National Stadium this evening, with 18-year-old McCarthy aiming to spoil the party. McCarthy is the young man who many believe will one day take the Egan mantle but will tonight be too much, too soon for the Oliver Plunkett lad?

The World Youth bronze medallist has no doubt that he can handle the class of Egan and the partisan crowd.

McCarthy said: “I know that I’m going to be up against it because in Dublin he’s a real celebrity and the crowd are going to be right behind him.

“But I have nothing to lose. All the pressure is going to be on him and I can’t wait.

“I know that I have the speed and the power to win.”

Meanwhile, Katie Taylor believes her dream of becoming an Olympic gold medallist is now closer than ever to becoming a reality.

The World lightweight champion was delighted by the news yesterday that the executive committee of the governing body of the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) voted unanimously to present its case for women boxing at the Games in London 2012 to the International Olympic Committee.

 

Independent.ie

Boxing: McCarthy vows to end Egan reign

By Thomas Myler
 

Friday February 20 2009

A HEATED war of words has broken out between Ireland's two leading amateur lightheavyweights ahead of tonight's National Senior Championships finals at Dublin's National Stadium.

Beijing Olympics silver medallist and reigning champion, Kenneth Egan, from Dublin's Neilstown BC, and Belfast's world youths' bronze medal-winner Thomas McCarthy, from the Oliver Plunkett club, are both claiming superiority.

Egan, who is going for his seventh 81kg title, an all-time record for the division, claims McCarthy, who beat Dubliner Brendan Fitzpatrick 9-6 in last weekend's semi-finals, has been saying too much and that he should keep his energy for tonight.

"Really, he has been talking above his weight," said Egan (27) yesterday. "He hasn't shown anything to suggest he can take the title off me. I was disappointed with his performance last Saturday, and if I had been in there, I would have stopped Fitzpatrick."

McCarthy (18) hit back last night: "Ok, I'm the underdog but I like it that way. It means all the pressure is on Egan to hang on to his title. I aim to be Ireland's No 1 lightheavyweight and I'll be going all out for an upset. His reign is coming to an end."

Boxing is full of shocks, and while McCarthy, the current Ulster champion, has youth on his side, it's hard to go against the experienced champion who is aiming for nine titles in a row, having previously won two middleweight cups. It promises to be a fascinating encounter.

Shock

There are some other keen matches on the card too, notably Kildare's Eric Donovan against Wicklow southpaw Ross Hickey in the lightweight decider. Donovan, from St Michael's club in Athy, scored a shock 8-7 win over Mayo's world youths champion, Ray Moylett, last weekend and it will be interesting to see if he can repeat that form.

Kilkenny middleweight Darren O'Neill, ousted in last year's final by the now professional Darren Sutherland, aims to add the national title to his Ulster cup. He clashes with Donegal's Stephen O'Reilly, who had a very convincing 9-2 win over Kildare's David Joyce last Friday night.

Sligo heavyweight Alan Reynolds, on a comeback at 32, is going for his seventh national title. He may have it tough enough, however, against Clonmel hitter Con Sheehan, who, like Reynolds, is aiming to get on Ireland's team against the USA in Dublin next Friday

The Joyce brothers Joe and David from Moate BC in Westmeath have qualified for the superheavyweight final but it's almost certain that one of them will pull out on the toss of a coin today.

 

Elite National Senior Championships Finals

48Kg: (Light flyweight) P Barnes (Holy Family) W/O

51Kg: (Flyweight) C Ahern (Baldoyle) v D Geraghty (Dublin Docklands)

54Kg: (Bantamweight) JJ Nevin (Cavan) v Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata)

57Kg: (Featherweight) D O Joyce (St Michael's Athy) v C Frampton (Midland)

60Kg: (Lightweight) R Hickey (Grangecon) v E Donovan (St Michael's Athy)

64Kg: (Light welterweight) JJ Joyce (St Michael's Athy) v P Sutcliffee (Crumlin)

69Kg: (Welterweight) W McLoughlin (Illies Golden Gloves) v C McAuley (Dungloe)

75Kg: (Middleweight) S O'Reilly (Twintowns) v D O'Neill (Paulstown)

81Kg: (Light heavyweight) K Egan (Neilstown) v T McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett)

91Kg: (Heavyweight) C Sheehan (Clonmel) v A Reynolds (St Joesphs Sligo)

91+Kg: (Super heavyweight) J Joyce (Moate) v D Joyce (Moate)

National Senior Championships,

Live RTE2, 9.00

- Thomas Myler

 

Ulster eight prepare to join Ireland’s Elite

Boxing: Irish Senior Elite Championships (9pm, live on RTE2)
By Thomas Hawkins and Bernard O’Neill
20/02/2009

The Beijing Olympics may have ended over half a year ago, but the feel-good factor is still in the air as the future stars of Irish amateur boxing go under the spotlight at the National Senior Elite Championships in Dublin tonight, with a 7.30pm start.
Ulster have eight contenders on tonight’s National Stadium bill, with three titles guaranteed to come back north. Beijing bronze medal winner Paddy Barnes, the reigning light-fly champion, is assured of another Irish senior gold with a walkover win for the north Belfast box-fighter.
And the bantam and welterweight titles will also go to northern challengers, with John Joe Nevin (Cavan) and Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata) going head-to-head in the 54kgs final before Two cracking Donegal lads, Willie McLoughlin (Illies Golden Gloves) and Cathal McAuley (Dungloe), battle for the 69kgs honours.
Tough deciders await featherweight hitter Carl Frampton (Midland/White City) and Belfast teenager Tommy McCarthy, who has the unenviable task of facing Beijing silver medal winner Ken Egan in the light-heavyweight final.
Donegal could add another Irish crown to their tally tonight but it will also be hard-earned.
Irish middleweight Darren O’Neill, who completes his final exams to become a schoolteacher this summer, is the stiff test facing Donegal middle Stephen O’Reilly.
O’Neill, a 23-year-old Paulstown, Kilkenny, clubman who played at minor level for the Kilkenny hurling team, has an impressive record at international level having won a raft of Multi-Nation gold, silver and bronze medals.
Yet despite his well-earned reputation on the international circuit, O’Reilly will know that O’Neill has yet to claim an Irish senior title.
And O’Neill acknowledges that O’Reilly, an eight-time Irish champion at all levels except senior, is part of an up-and-coming group of talented young boxers who are challenging the established order of things.
However, he admitted that he did not watch the Twintowns ace in last weekend’s semi-final win over David Joyce, a bronze medal winner at the 2008 AIBA World Youth Championships in Mexico.
“I haven’t done any homework or analysis on Stephen,’’ said O’Neill.
“But I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way as I just prefer to concentrate on my own game instead of placing too much emphasis on what my opponent will do.
“Stephen has been rising steadily up through the ranks in recent years. He has come on in leaps and bounds and he is obviously a boxer that is going places.
“The younger boxers are hungry for success and are pushing for places on the Irish senior team and no-one can afford to be complacent.
“I’m expecting a tough final on
Friday. Some people are tipping me as favourite but that doesn’t mean a whole lot – it is what you do on the night that matters.”
A question mark hangs over the last bout on tonight’s Stadium bill.
Brothers David and Joe Joyce may decide not to cross swords. The Moate duo are set to meet for the vacant Irish super heavy title.

FINALS SCHEDULE
** Denotes defending champions
48kg: Light-fly: **Paddy Barnes (Holy Family) Walkover
51kg: Fly: Conor Ahern (Baldoyle) v Declan Geraghty (Dublin Docklands)
54kg: Bantam: **John Joe Nevin (Cavan) v Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata)
57kg: Feather: **David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) v Carl Frampton (Midland)
60kg: Light: **Ross Hickey (Grangecon) v Eric Donovan (St Michael’s, Athy)
64kg: Light-welter: **John Joe Joyce (St Michael’s, Athy) v Philip Sutcliffe (Crumlin)
69kg: Welter: Willie McLoughlin (Illies Golden Gloves) v Cathal McAuley (Dungloe)
75kg: Middle: Stephen O’Reilly (Twintowns) v Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)
81kg: Light-heavy: **Ken Egan (Neilstown) v Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett)
91kg: Heavy: **Con Sheehan (Clonmel) v Alan Reynolds (St Joesph’s, Sligo)
91+kg: Super-heavy: Joe Joyce (Moate) v David Joyce (Moate)

Frampton’s eye on Irish crown

Belfast Telegraph

Thursday, 19 February 2009


 

Carl Frampton (blue) on his way to victory in last weekend's semi-finals now bids to dethrone David Oliver Joyce

Carl Frampton may be only 22 on Saturday but he's had his fair share of ups and downs.

 

Having won his first Irish senior title in 2005, the Belfast man has since fallen short and only picked up his first Ulster title last year.

In between he has claimed a European Union silver medal and just missed out on making Ireland's highly successful European Championship team last year when losing to the man he aims to dethrone tomorrow night in Dublin's National Stadium.

Frampton, a flyweight champion four years ago, tangles with featherweight title holder David Oliver Joyce, who is bidding to claim his fifth successive title having won two at bantam and two at feather.

Frampton said: "It would be the perfect birthday present to win the Irish title but I know it's going to be a tough fight against Joyce.

"The good thing is, I know what to expect from David Oliver. We fought in the box-off and I lost by two points even though I thought I should have got the decision.

"So far we have boxed three times, once at Boy4 when he won a countback and then a couple of years back when he won again so I'm due a win."

Frampton, certainly believes that the time is right for him to once be crowned Irish champion having boxed beautifully to make the final, defeating fellow Belfast man Tyrone McKenna and Clonmel's Kevin Fennessy in style.

The Midland/ White City boxer added: "I knew Tyrone was going to be tricky because he's so tall for the weight but I managed to walk him down and I think now we're boxing three three-minute rounds it suits me a lot better.

"I got through Tyrone and I forced Fennessy's corner to throw in the towel in the second round after going 10-0 up. My defence has improved a lot. I think in the past I could have been criticised for that but my guard is a lot better and I'm boxing better than ever.

"Last year was really bad for me and I've recently lost my Irish funding and at the moment I'm not getting any from the Northern Ireland Sports Council but that might change.

"It's going to be an exciting final but I believe I can win it and that would mean I'd be boxing against the Yanks next week which would be great. Hopefully Ulster has a few winners."

At welterweight, Ulster is guaranteed at least one winner as Willie McLoughlin of Illies Golden Gloves and Cathal McCauley of Dungloe go head to head.

McCauley felt robbed of victory in the Ulster senior final when losing to Shane McGuigan and that sense of disappointment may well turn to joy tomorrow night.

Paddy Barnes is already light-flyweight champion, while Immaculata's Ryan Lindberg shoots for the bantamweight title and Stephen O'Reilly the middleweight crown.

At bantamweight, Olympian John Joe Nevin will start favourite but Frampton believes that his fellow Belfast man can cause an upset.

“Nevin likes to get a lead and then just stay away but I’ve seen that the officials are clamping down on that and that’s good for Ryan. I think Ryan likes the three-minute rounds and he might just come out on top.”

Belfast teenager Tommy McCarthy faces the most demanding test as he aims to spoil the party for Olympic silver medallist Ken Egan at light-heavyweight.

Finals:

48kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family) walkover.

51kg: Conor Ahern (Baldoyle) v Declan Geraghty (Dublin Docklands)

54kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan) v Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata)

57kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy) v Carl Frampton (Midland/ White City)

60kg: Ross Hickey (Grangecon) v Eric Donovan (St Michael's Athy)

64kg: John Joe Joyce (St Michael's Athy) v Philip Sutcliffe (Crumlin)

69kg: Willie McLoughlin (Illies GG) v Cathal McCauley (Dungloe)

75kg: Stephen O'Reilly (Twin Towns) v Darren O'Neill (Paulstown)

81kg: Ken Egan (Neilstown) v Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett)

91kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel) v Alan Reynolds (St Joseph's Sligo)

91kg+: Joe Joyce (Moate) v David Joyce (Moate)

 

Irish boxers have world in their hands

Seconds Out
By Eamonn O’Hara & Thomas Hawkins
17/02/2009

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) may be feeling hugely disappointed after losing out in their bid to hold the 2011 World Senior Championships in Dublin, but the future still looks bright for the sport judging by the talent at the National Senior Championships.
And even at this early stage, London 2012 is the target many of them are aiming for. A title win in Friday night’s Senior final deciders at the National Stadium in Dublin brings with it the 2009 Irish honours? and a bit more besides.
The winners also earn an international vest against the USA in Dublin on Friday, February 27 plus a place on the Irish team travelling to Denmark in June for the EU Senior Championships.
But for many of those who don’t make it to the victory rostrum, there will be plenty of time to reflect, learn from the experience and plan for the future. With morale and standing boosted greatly by the fantastic successes of Irish boxers in Beijing, Ireland’s young and not-so-young competitors have the 2012 Olympics circled thickly in red.
The IABA viewed the 2011 World Senior event, on the association’s 100th birthday, as the perfect launch pad for another medal-winning Olympic challenge the following year in London.
Speaking from Milan yesterday a disappointed IABA president
Dominic O’Rourke said: “We put an enormous amount of effort into our bid and we put forward an excellent presentation which was very well received in Milan.
“I would like to thank everyone that helped us with our presentation. We are disappointed with the decision. Hopefully we will get the opportunity to hold one of the Olympic qualifying tournaments in Dublin in two years’ time.’’
Friday night should cheer the president up no end when a wealth of Irish talent goes in search of national senior crowns.
Ulster is well represented, with eight boxers in the title shake-up. They are Beijing bronze medallist Paddy Barnes (Holy Family), bantams John Joe Nevin (Cavan) and Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata), feather Carl Frampton (Midland), welters Willie McLoughlin (Illies Golden Gloves) and Cathal McAuley (Dungloe) and middle Stephen O’Reilly (Twintowns).
The final young Ulster man with an eye very much on the title and the future is 18-year-old Belfast light heavyweight Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett). The Andersonstown student has one of the toughest tests on the programme, going in against Beijing silver medal winner and a huge Dublin favourite, Ken Egan, in the 81 kilos decider.
Oliver Plunkett coach Patsy McAllister is well aware of the size of the task, but is keen to put things into perspective.
“Friday night is a big night for Tommy, but it’s not the be-all-and-end-all, there’s much more to come for him and from many other kids,’’ said veteran McAllister.
“Overall I think that the championships have produced a batch of really good kids.
“They can’t all make the Elite panel, that’s only for the winners of the finals, but at the end of the day, Ireland have a great second string looking at some of the kids coming through.
“They mustn’t be forgotten about, they are the future, even if they’re not on the High Performance top level, they can still be involved, they would love that, and hopefully there will be international competition to bring them on as we count down to London 2012.’’
McAllister, is no stranger to the cauldron of the National Stadium on Irish senior finals night; his Oliver Plunkett pupils, including Terry Young, Stephen Hanna and his own gifted son, Danny, featured in hard-fought Irish final wins down the years. And he expects another enthralling battle on Friday night.
“People expect an awful lot but they have to remember Tommy’s still only 18 and they have to remember the strength, the experience of the opposition,’’ he added.
“Having said that this time last year, I would never have thought that Tommy would be in this position now.
“He’s come on leaps and bounds in the last 12 months, he’s maturing into a really gifted boxer.
“Right now Ken Egan has to be the big favourite and there’s no getting away from that. But Tommy’s very fast, fast footwork and so it’s up to us to use that, use his best qualities and make Ken think all the time. Tommy knows how hard it will be but he’s well prepared for it.’’
 

McCarthy Ken take Irish title

Boxing: Elite National Senior Championships
By Bernard O’Neill and Thomas Hawkins
09/02/09
 
Ulster senior light-heavyweight champion Tommy McCarthy
EAGER FOR EGAN: Ulster senior light-heavyweight champion Tommy McCarthy is on a collision course with Olympic silver medalist Ken Egan at the National Senior Championships in Dublin and the Oliver Plunkett man is confident he can take the Dubliner’s Irish title

BELFAST will have a new Irish senior boxing sensation if the confidence of young gun Tommy McCarthy is well-placed.
The big Andersonstown lad is correctly cautious, not wanting to look past or underestimate his next opponent, but this terrific teenager reckons that he can bring the curtain down on Ken Egan’s dominance of Irish senior boxing.
McCarthy, the current Ulster senior champion and 2008 World Youth bronze medallist, marched into the semi-finals of the Elite National Senior Championships with a 16-2 win over Thomas Roohan at the National Stadium, Dublin on Saturday night.
The 18-year-old, who fights out of Patsy McAllister’s Oliver Plunkett club in Belfast, will now meet Brendan Fitzpatrick, of the West Finglas club, in this Saturday’s light-heavyweight last four clash.
Ken Egan, 27, a silver medal winner at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is targeting an historic ninth Irish senior title on the trot.
The Neilstown man received a bye into the last four, where he’ll face Denis Hogan – who beat
Fitzpatrick on a count-back in last December’s intermediate final.
McCarthy admitted that he doesn’t know an awful lot about Fitzpatrick, adding that he was pleased with his performance and win in his first Irish senior bout.
“The media are talking up a final between myself and Ken a lot, but we both have to win our semi-finals first, that goes without saying,’’ said McCarthy.
“But if we do meet in the final, I would be confident that I can beat him. I wouldn’t bother stepping into the ring if I didn’t think that, because confidence is everything in this sport.
“Ken is obviously one of the top Irish boxers. But he can be beaten and I think the fact that he hasn’t fought competitively since his Olympic final will be a factor.
“But first up is the semi-final, I’ll have to win that first and we’ll see who I meet in the final then.”
There were other good Ulster wins at the weekend in the Stadium, with the middleweight division looking particularly interesting.
Darren O’Neill marched into the last-four following a 12-5 win over John Joe McDonagh, as did Immaculata’s Eamon O’Kane and Donegal digger, Stephen O’Reilly.
O’Kane, a bronze medal winner at the 2008 European Championships in Liverpool, edged out Luke Keeler after a very close battle, while O’Reilly (Twintowns) had 13 points to spare, 19-6, over Michael Collins (Darndale).
At heavyweight, John Sweeney (Dungloe) ousted Pat Kearns (Golden Cobra), St John’s ace Ruairi Dalton came out tops in an all-Ulster flyweight battle against Jamie Conlon and feather Carl Frampton (Midland) beat his fellow-Belfast man Tyrone McKenna (Oliver Plunkett) 14-5.
Another all-Ulster clash involved light-welters Michael McLoughlin (Carndonagh) and James
McDonagh (Dockers), with the Donegal lad winning 13-1.
Donegal boxers were also in the winning frame at welter, where William McLoughlin (Illies Golden Gloves) and Cathal McAuley (Dungloe) came through.
World Youth champion Ray Moylette and 2008 Olympian John Joe Joyce progressed to the semis following convincing last eight wins on Saturday Moylette recorded a 12-2 lightweight win over Rob Gorman, and Joyce is now just two fights away from claiming his fourth senior title on the trot after racking up an impressive 22-5 win over Galway light welterweight Patrick Ward.
Jamie Kavanagh, a silver medal winner at the 2008 AIBA World Youth Championships, was also in top form, earning a 21-4 last eight victory over Stephen Donnelly.
Alan Reynolds, a seven-time Irish senior champion, won his second fight in the space of 24 hours on Saturday, while defending
welterweight champion Roy Sheahan chalked up a 16-3 win over Jamie Dowling.
 

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