Ulster and Ireland news round up by Steve Wellings Mar 20th 2008

BBN's shamrock-loving fight fan, Steve Wellings, gives us the low down on what's happening across the Irish Sea. Some Irish talent got recent stateside exposure as four local boxers appeared in Boston's Orpheum Theater on 15th March. Welterweight Gary O'Sullivan made it two wins out of two as he removed Robert Harris in the first round to add to an impressive debut KO of Peter Dunn in Cork. Patrick Hyland -o f the fighting Hyland brother's clan - also did his business in the first round as he beat Mike Dobbs while light-heavyweight Jon O'Brien took four sessions to stop Salah Zabian. The only blemish came when cruiserweight hope Michael Sweeney got held to a majority draw by unheralded David Williams. No such problems occurred for transplanted Wicklow light-middleweight James Moore on the same night as he was roared on to victory over J.C. Candelo in front of a passionate New York crowd. The experienced Candelo was on paper the toughest test so far for Moore who improved to 15-0 (10 KO's) and at 30 years old will surely be peaking anytime soon. Martin Lindsay looks to put the misery of an aborted British title eliminator behind him when he defends the IBF Youth featherweight title against Ramon Garza on 5th April. Garza is a Mexican and the fight will likely take place in Ontario, Canada. Lindsay was forced to withdraw from a fight with Scotsman Paul Appleby in February due to a tooth extraction. Appleby challenges for the British title proper when he tackles champion John Simpson in the coming months. Limerick Middleweight Andy Lee could bag himself a slot on the Lockett-Pavlik undercard in June against Marco Antonio Rubio if he wins his next contest. Lee has been matched with former Contender contestant Brian Vera on 21st March in Connecticut. Lisburn heavyweight Scott Belshaw will be looking to return to winning ways as he tackles journeyman Daniel Peret in an immediate rematch. Peret was supposed to be the latest stepping stone for promising Belshaw but the big man slipped up as the recent death of a close friend lay heavy on his mind. Journalist Aaron Montgomery had been killed in an altercation outside a Belfast nightclub shortly before Belshaw's appearance in Nottingham. Frank Maloney was livid with the performance: “I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I was embarrassed by it and so angry because I know he can box a lot better than that,” fumed Maloney. "It was the worst performance I've seen from a heavyweight in the ring. He just didn't show anything in the fight and he paid for it. He shouldn't be losing to a guy like that." Light-welterweight Paul McCloskey is due to headline his first show in Letterkenny on 29th March, but this week revealed the long running hand problems McCloskey suffers in-between fights. Trainer John Breen speaking to the Irish News made known McCloskey's trips to the sports injury specialist. “There were a few niggly problems to sort out before Paul was able to start working in sparring. He has had trouble before with his hands. It's something he is used to having to deal with but everything is fine and Paul is really looking forward to fighting Bazan.” Breen is under no illusions as to the threat of the experienced ring warrior to McCloskey's unbeaten slate, “This is going to be a good test. Cesar Bazan is a class fighter, a really tough character. He has twice as many knock-out wins in his record of 46 wins than Paul has had professional fights… Paul will look to make him work and push him back as much as possible.”

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