By Jonny Stapleton
Local puncher Paul Hyland will bid to put more pressure on his mother’s extended and already fragile mantle piece by becoming the third Hyland brother to claim an Irish title when he takes on Marc Callaghan in Dublin’s National Basketball Arena on July 5. The vacant Irish super-bantamweight crown will be on the line.
Earlier this year, both Patrick and Edward Hyland claimed their first professional Irish belts to make it a total of 20 amateur and professional titles between the brothers and Paul, the youngest of the trio, plans to make it a special twenty first on home soil early next month.
The chance to add a professional belt to the host of amateur titles, however, is not the only incentive for the Tallaght puncher. If he manages to dispose of the experienced and proven Callaghan he will progress up the boxing ladder and could become a figure not just in Ireland but in Europe in an extremely competitive weight division. And a potential fight with La Sencasion Kiko Martinez, conqueror of Ireland’s Bernard Dunne, is even a possibility.
“I have looked up to my brothers all the time and at the end of the day I have a chance to join them as an Irish champion. I have won every Irish title available to me as an amateur now I have stepped up as a pro and I want to add to that,” the likeable Hyland told the Tallaght Voice after Tuesday’s press conference.
Hyland has been handed no easy opponent for his title shot. In Callaghan, Hyland will face a respected professional and former British and Commonwealth title challenger with a respectable record of 19-14-1 (4 via KO).
That risk mentality not only ensures a tense bout that will certainly entertain the fans but means the prize is bigger for the local lad. Callaghan has put in respectable performances against some of Europe’s leading boxers. He took Esham Pickering, who Bernard Dunne beat to take the European super-bantamweight crown the distance. Callaghan also gave reigning European super-bantam king Rendall Munroe a good fight before he was stopped and holds a victory over current British bantamweight champion Ian Napa. So, victory for the baby Hyland not only means added silverware but instant increased notoriety.
“This would be the biggest fight in my career and not just because a title is up for grabs but because Marc (Callaghan) has fought some brilliant fighters. In his last three fights he has fought Martin Lindsey, Rendall Munroe and Esham Pickering. He went the distance with Pickering and Lindsey and Munroe stopped him so it is a big step up for me. Lets face it, Munroe is European Champion and Pickering is former European champion so this fight is up there the European stage so it may move me up the ladder and it certainly will be a great fight for the fans,” Hyland added.
“We are hoping to have three professional titles in the family come July,” Hyland’s father and promoter Paddy Hyland explained.
“But this wont be an easy bout for Paul. We took a test with Eddie (Hyland) against Kevin O’Hara and Patrick (Hyland) against Paul Griffin on our own promotions and they came trough them with flying colours and Callaghan is an equally a big test for Paulie. Callaghan is a good fighter who is tough and strong and we know for a fact this will be Paul’s toughest fight to date in both his amateur and professional career. But he will come trough it and take the belt home,” he added before commenting on the possibility of a bout with Kiko Martinez, who seems very eager to fight in Ireland.
“We would relish the prospect of taking on Kiko Martinez for a European title. One or two more fights for Paulie and then no problem. Then if either Kiko or Bernard Dunne want to go up to featherweight we have another Irish Champion here that will fight them in Patrick Hyland.”
“Its exciting thinking about it,” Paul claimed. “I am training for this fight now but I am also training for the future looking toward to the likes of Bernard Dunne and Kiko Martinez. If I get trough this then I will be up there with them. I wouldn’t mind fighting Pickering to see what he has got and challenge myself further. I am not afraid to challenge anyone, we are in there to fight and win and at the end of the day that’s what I want to do. That’s what I plan to do on July 5. I will be coming home that night and putting my belt up on the mantle piece with the two brothers. Then after the 5 July I will take anyone that’s out there,” Paul Hyland concluded.
As the Tallaght Voice revealed last week Kiko wants Bernard Dunne, who would ensure him a bumper pay day, but Pat McGee, Martinez’s manager, said a Martinez -Hyland fight is not a far fetched idea.
“We have to go where the money is and if you look at the European ratings the obvious fight and the attractive fight for Kiko if he does dispose of Munroe, and I believe he will, is Bernard Dunne. After that you are looking at Paul Hyland and if he can make rapid progress on those ratings then we are looking at a Kiko-Paulie fight.”
Also on the undercard, Salford’s Jamie Moore will do battle with Ciaran Healy for the Irish Light-middleweight championship. If Moore emerges victorious, he will become the first man in history to win the Irish, British and Commonwealth crowns.
