Ulster and Irish round up by Steve Wellings Feb 24th 2008

Brian Peters Promotions are plugging a big show at the end of March with light-welterweight hope Paul McCloskey headlining his first event and Belfast youngster Luke Wilton making his pro debut at bantamweight. The Foyleside Shopping Centre, Derry was the venue for the press conference on Thursday announcing the big Hunky Dory's fight night. McCloskey meets former WBC light-welterweight champion Cesar Bazan of Mexico, a sixteen year professional who beat Stevie Johnston for the title back in 1998. Bazan brings a wealth of experience having shared the ring with Jose Luis Castillo, a rising Miguel Cotto and Henry Bruseles. He lost to all three but is still only 33 years old and will bring typical Mexican machismo to Letterkenny where McCloskey aims to rack up win number sixteen. A decent undercard is also filling out with former British champion Neil Sinclair coming out of his latest retirement to appear, welterweight Stephen Haughian and Cuban heavyweight Mike Perez will have slots on the show. As mentioned, Team Alio's latest signing Luke Wilton makes his professional debut around the super-bantamweight mark. Just one week prior to this engagement, Matthew Macklin gets a big career test since linking up with top American trainer Buddy McGirt as he meets 100+ fight veteran Yory Boy Campas. James Gorman, fresh off a sterling welterweight title effort against Billy Walsh, goes into a rematch with Andrew Murray for the Irish light-welterweight crown. Murray won the first encounter on points after a cut curtailed the action in round four. Novices Aidan Mooney and Leon Senior aim to put another win on the slate in separate four round bouts whilst heavyweight Martin Rogan gets a welcome eight round run-out as he eyes an Irish title shot in the summer. Boston is set for an Irish invasion on 15th March with five boxers scheduled to appear. Heavyweight Scott Belshaw heads the bunch with promising brothers Paul and Patrick Hyland pencilled in alongside Billy Walsh and Jon O'Brien. John Duddy is aiming to light up Madison Square Garden again this weekend (23rd February) as he faces off against Walid Smichet with a world title shot on the horizon. Duddy knows he has to look impressive if he is to challenge Kelly Pavlik in June after promoter Bob Arum threw faded Felix Trinidad's name into the hat of potential Pavlik opponents. Duddy is part of the support card for the much anticipated heavyweight unification showdown between Wladimir Klitschko and Sultan Ibragimov. Meanwhile County Whicklow native James Moore gets a step up in class on 15th March when he faces Juan Candelo at the New York Garden. Moore is 14-0 but experienced Candelo has been in with many good fighters. Oisin Fagan is also on the card against a yet unnamed opponent.

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