Duddy eventually catches up with Furlan

By Jonny Stapleton

Irish middleweight John Duddy saved his best until last in the National Stadium last Saturday night, defeating Italian Alessio Furlan with just 18 seconds remaining in their International Middleweight bout to secure victory in his first ever professional fight on home soil.

Since leaving Ireland four years ago Duddy has captured the attention of the New York boxing world, selling out Madison Square Garden four times and wracking up 20 straight wins, 16 of them coming via the short route.

“La Sensación” set for Dunne

Brian Peters Promotions in association with Denis Hobson and Team Magee are delighted to confirm the next Hunky Dorys Fight Night at the Point, Dublin on Saturday, August 25th.

Headlining the event will be the European Super Bantamweight title fight between champion Bernard Dunne and mandatory challenger Kiko “La Sensacion” Martinez.

A second title fight on the card will see history being made when Belfast’s Brian Magee challenges for Tony Oakey’s British Light Heavyweight title in the first ever British title fight to take place outside of Britain.

Thaxton: I’d KO Khan

British lightweight champion Jon Thaxton has re-iterated his long-standing challenge to Amir Khan to meet him in what would now be an old-school showdown for two traditional titles following Khan’s win over Willie Limmond on Saturday night.

The Olympic Silver Medallist captured the Commonwealth Crown when former holder Limmond failed to emerge for the ninth round at the O2 Arena in Docklands, but only after climbing off the canvas and surviving some torrid moments of his own in the sixth.

“I want Khan to be a man,” began Hennessy Sports promoted Thaxton. “He’s said a lot about me in the press. He’s disrespected me, so now it’s time for him to step up the plate. I’ve got the British Title, he’s got the Commonwealth Title, so let’s do things the old fashioned way and put them both on the line.

Johanneson In High Stakes European Revenge Bid

Carl Johanneson puts everything on the line this Friday when he challenges European super featherweight ruler Leva Kirakosyan on a Frank Maloney promotion at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England.

28 year old British Champion Johanneson, 28-2 (18), has only lost twice in a seven year pro career and one of those was to Kirakosyan, who needed only a single round to KO the Leeds based pressure artist in London on December 12, 2004.

Johanneson has gone on to win his last eight contests and all but one by stoppage, including a British title victory and two defenses, but has longed to burn Kirakosyan in the flames of revenge ever since.

Napa vs. Booth Fisticuff

Courtesy of Curtis McCormick

It was a firestorm of fisticuffs on Friday night at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan, England as bantamweight Ian Napa led the way on a Frank Maloney/Steve Wood co-promotion, winning the vacant British title after out dueling Jason Booth in a vicious display of body punching for twelve grinding rounds.

Napa withstood the tremendous onslaught of punishment put on early by Booth only to force his will on the former multi-weight champion and gut out an amazing win and the British title. The Londoner finally reverses a long unlucky streak while improving to 14-6 (0). Booth drops to 27-5 (10) but has vowed to return after the wrenching loss.

Dunne proves he’s a heavy hitter

Bernard Dunne’s star continues to rise following the second successful defence of his European super bantamweight title at the most recent Hunky Dorys Fight Night.

Dunne’s win over Norway’s Reidar Walstad at the Point last month had over 600,000 viewers glued to their television sets and RTÉ TWO’s live coverage of the bout.

With an audience peak of 607,000 viewers there’s no doubt that Dunne’s pulling power is every bit as good as his punching power – that figure translate to over 60% of the available television audience.

Booth & Napa prepare for trip down memory lane

The vacant British bantamweight title will be at stake when Jason Booth clashes with Ian Napa this Friday, July 6 at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan, England but more importantly, the future prospects of each man hangs in the balance of this greatly anticipated showdown.

For Booth, 27-4 (10), the bout will determine if he still has the goods to compete at top level following the loss of his IBO super flyweight title to Damaen Kelly in 2004 and subsequent two year layoff.

Duddy set to turn up the heat

Derry’s John Duddy is winding up his training camp at the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania ahead of his homecoming bout on the next Hunky Dorys Fight Night at the National Stadium, Dublin on July 14th.

Duddy will arrive in Dublin this weekend ahead of his ten round bout with Italy’s Alessio Furlan accompanied by new trainer Don Turner.

Haye must travel to France for Mormeck WBC challenge

WBC number one-ranked cruiserweight contender David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye will fulfil one of his career ambitions on September 28 in Paris, France, when he finally locks horns with WBC and WBA cruiserweight king Jean-Marc Mormeck.

The 26-year-old Bermondsey puncher sealed the deal hours before the bout was scheduled to go to purse bids, and will now battle Mormeck for the right to be crowned undisputed cruiserweight champion.

Thompson Gunning For Vuma And Recognition

 

Undefeated British contender Mark Thompson has landed a huge opportunity to face impressive South African champion, Vincent Vuma, for the WBC International Light Middleweight title this Friday, July 6 at Robin Park Center in Wigan, England.

The 26 year old from Manchester has been called a throwback fighter by his promoter Frank Maloney and now Thompson gets the chance to see if his constant hard work in the gym can pay off.

Having barely lost a round in his campaign as a pro thus far, Thompson has burned through a host of domestic opposition with an unrelenting, high pressure Manchester style made famous by Ricky Hatton and Jamie Moore.

Lawton set to defend English title

Stoke’s Scott Lawton (20-3-1) will defend his English Lightweight title against Dean Hickman (15-3-1) on 29th September at Stoke’s Fenton Manor Sports Complex.

The British Boxing Board of Control made Hickman the mandatory challenger to Lawton’s title late last year and the fight was originally scheduled to take place in February this year. Lawton was given the opportunity to challenge for the British title in March however and the Hickman camp agreed to the postponement of the contest.