Duddy lands world title shot and eyes Jamie Moore showdown

By Jonny Stapleton

Derry puncher John Duddy has dropped down from middleweight to light-middle and will challenge Verno Phillips for the IBF world title in the autumn.

The unbeaten Duddy wracked up win number 25 with victory over Charles Howe in Boston last weekend, but has opted to change weight in a bid to put a belt around his waist.

Hyland-Callaghan preview

By Johnny Stapleton

The Hyland family will be boasting three professional Irish champions come Saturday night according to Paddy Hyland promoter, manager and father of brotherly pugilist trio Patrick, Edward and Paul Hyland

Patrick and Edward have already added professional titles to the host of amateur accolades they previous attained by recently winning the national featherweight and super-featherweight crowns respectively, and promoter Paddy Hyland believes the youngest of the talented trio, Paulie, will follow in their footsteps when he takes on Marc Callaghan in National Stadium tonight.

“I am 100% certain Paulie will win and we will have three Irish champions in the family. It will be a tough battle for him though. I think it will be a similar fight to when Edward fought O’Hara. Callaghan is a tough lad and he will be in there until the end. But Paulie is in great shape and once he is in the type of form he is currently in I just can’t see anyone beating him,” he told his local paper the Tallaght Voice this week.

Barnes withstands spirited Morrison fightback to retain British title

Courtesy of Matchroomsport.com

David Barnes successfully defended his British Light-Welterweight title with a points triumph over Barry Morrison. In a thrilling contest at the Everton Park Sports Centre in Liverpool, Barnes got the verdict by 116-113, 116-113 and 116-112 margins.

It was a brave performance from Morrison but Barnes stamped his authority on the opening rounds and, despite a spirited fightback from the Scot, that proved to be decisive. The fight, which was the main event of Matchroom Sport’s latest boxing show was shown on Sky Sports, proved to be an entertaining clash.

Meager not reading too much into Murray sparring sessions

Lee Meager is putting friendship aside when he takes on John Murray for the vacant British Lightweight Title at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan on Friday 11th July 2008 on a Hennessy Sports in association with GoldenPalace.net event.

The two Manchester lightweights are part of the same Hennessy Sports stable and know each other from numerous sparring sessions together.

Dunne targets Munroe’s European title

Despite returning to winning ways against Felix Machado in Castlebar in April Bernard Dunne admits there’s something missing at the moment – his European title belt.

The Dubliner is back in action in his native city on July 12th when he meets Argentina’s Damian Marchiano in the Hunky Dorys Fight Night headline bout at the National Stadium.

Dunne is hopeful that an impressive win over Marchiano will take him a step closer to a fight with the man who now holds his old European Super Bantamweight title belt – England’s Rendall Munroe.

Murray calls out Khan but must get by Meager first

British lightweight title challenger John Murray is offering to be Amir Khan’s next opponent on 6th September 2008.

Former unbeaten English champion Murray faces fellow Manchester boxer Lee Meager for the vacant British Lightweight Title at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan on Friday 11th July 2008. Hennessy Sports pair Murray and Meager face each other after Jon Thaxton vacated the belt on a show scheduled to be televised live on Sky Sports.

McDonagh eyeing another Dublin upset against Murray

He won’t have Uri Geller in his corner this time but Peter McDonagh believes it will still be a case of mind over matter when he defends his Irish Lightweight title against Andrew Murray on the Hunky Dorys Fight Night at the National Stadium, Dublin on July 12th.

Their ten round bout is one of two Irish title fights on the undercard to Bernard Dunne’s clash with Argentina’s Damian Marchiano. McDonagh though is hoping to steal the show by ruining Murray’s perfect record.