Dunne continues on comeback trail by Steve Wellings Jul 10th 2008

Irish favourite Bernard Dunne takes another step on the road back into title contention when he battles Argentine Damian Marchiano on July 12th in Dublin's National Stadium. The 28 year-old returned to the ring with a ten round points win over veteran Felix Machado in April but he still clamours for another shot at the European crown he once held. “I want my old title back,” Dunne stated recently. “I hear Munroe's not all that keen on giving me an opportunity so we might have to just try and force his hand by waiting for the EBU to make me his mandatory challenger.” The classy Munroe doesn't strike me as the sort to duck a challenge, so provided Dunne gets made mandatory challenger, a fight between the two could be in the pipelines. Dunne's career came crashing down around him in 2007 when dangerous Spaniard Kiko Martinez arrived in Dublin and silenced the local crowd, smashing Bernard in a round and snapping his unbeaten record. Martinez has since lost his Euro title to Munroe and a low key win last weekend (also in Dublin) means the man nicknamed “La Sensacion” will also be fancying a second crack at the belt. As for Dunne's opponent in this top of the bill clash, Damian Marchiano, here comes a hungry world level operator who could derail the best laid plans. Also 28, Marchiano sports a 15-4-1 slate but has been matched tough since his 2001 debut. The man from Buenos Aires can be hit and hurt and was stopped in five rounds in his last contest by quality South African Silence Mabuza. Prospect Abner Mares beat him over the 12 round distance in 2007 for a bauble title and he was halted in a single round a year earlier by unheralded Jose Luis Ferreira. “I've watched a DVD of him and he's a very aggressive fighter. He likes to press the action and is constantly on the front foot. He likes to drag the other guy into his kind of fight,” added Dunne. “Abner Mares is very highly rated and one of the big up and coming stars in the U.S. Last time out he lost to Silence Mabuza for the IBO title but for me Mabuza is probably the best bantamweight in the world right now and certainly the best puncher in that weight division.” Even though this contest is being made as a catchweight, two pounds over the super-bantamweight limit of 8 st 10 lb, Bernard insists he is in no hurry to move up to featherweight; Marchiano, in contrast, has done the majority of his work down at bantamweight. The South American fighters are notoriously unpredictable but even though Argentinians are bred tough, I have my doubts as to whether this one can last the pace. Marchiano isn't a massive puncher with only five knockout wins, though Dunne has shown vulnerability in the past. But with a fervent Dublin crown spurring him on, the Neilstown man can hammer the body and mix in some trademark right hands before Marchiano wilts just short of the ten round distance. On a typically packed Brian Peters undercard, Jim Rock makes a surprise return as he aims to add another Irish title to his brimming trophy cabinet. The RTE commentator doesn't need the money, he is back for the glory and opponent Jonjo Finnegan gets a career best opportunity in the opposite corner of the ring. “This fight has been talked about quite a few times in recent years and for one reason or another it's never come off but finally it's happening now and I can't wait,” said Finnegan when the bout was first announced. It's a big ask for the 11-3-3 Burton man who has battled back from a potentially career ending car accident for this Irish title shot at light-heavyweight. Finnegan has previously lost in Midlands Area and British Masters title attempts, while working the small hall scene across the Midlands. Rock meanwhile has amassed a 28-4 (10 KO's) record while winning Irish titles at light-middleweight, middleweight and super-middleweight. This will be a fourth weight win if he pulls it off and Rock has also mixed with the likes of Takaloo, Ensley Bingham and Alan Jones during a thirteen year career. Finnegan will have a height and reach advantage plus eight years youth on the 36 year-old “Pink Panther” who claimed, “I know I've threatened retirement before but I think this fight will be it for me.” Finnegan may be younger but unless Rock has grown complacent (which is doubtful in the rigorous Breen gym in Belfast) or extremely old overnight, he can roll back the years and add another belt to the collection. In what may well be the fight of the night, Cavan light-welterweight Andrew Murray finally gets another title chance when he bids for Peter McDonagh's Irish lightweight belt. Murray has been on a hot streak recently, stopping his last three opponents after a rematch for his light-welterweight Irish title fell through (James Gorman damaged his knee in the build up). Murray had already beaten Gorman in Belfast but the finish was inconclusive following an accidental head clash and Murray used the frustration to move to 12-0 (6 KO's) and into this contest. McDonagh is five years older at 30 and sports a misleading 11-12 slate but is tough, fit and gets good sparring, being based in Bermondsey, London. The Galway native won this title when Michael Gomez astonishingly quit in the fifth round in their 2006 fight, handing Peter a surprise win. He has struggled to stay active since and was stopped in Italy last time round by Giuseppe Lauri for the EU belt. Murray has removed half of his opposition thus far and uses steady boxing skills and precision and accuracy to wear his men down rather than being extremely heavy handed. His finish of Wellington De Jesus was impressive and it seems McDonagh will do well to last the course if Andrew is fired up and on form. Peter will press ahead and keep it interesting until Murray's quality tells later into the fight. Whether points or stoppage, I can only see the belt changing hands. Transplanted Irishman Oisin Fagan returns to the Isle after forging a career in America as he features in a 6x3's on the undercard. The idea is to match Fagan with Andrew Murray and this is a good chance for fans to compare and contrast the styles, should a future fight come off. Originally slated to face tricky Leonard Lothian, Fagan's actual opponent remains somewhat of a mystery with Latvian Konstantin Sakara possibly getting the job. Either way it appears a Fagan win is on the cards as the 34 year-old Oklahoma-based teacher looks to return with a bang. The man nicknamed “Gael Force” boasts plenty of big fight experience as he has compiled a 21-5 (13 KO's) record and is managed by the charismatic Stacey Goodson. A rematch with prospect Verquan Kimborough is already mooted back in the states for August (he lost a controversial split decision in the first fight), so Oisin has plenty of irons in the fire. He is tough, uncompromising and comes to win, having mixed with the likes of Paul Spadafora and Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr (both losing efforts). Fagan should win and if Murray does too, it seems the logical fight for Murray's light-welterweight Irish title will take place later in the year, possibly on a big fight undercard (maybe Duddy-Phillips at the Odyssey Arena?) These big fight undercards are often subject to change but three decent names are still penciled in for appearances. Former class amateur Ian Tims may feature alongside ex-Irish Bantamweight king Eugene Heagney, while a familiar name looks to return, in the form of Ulsterman Darren Corbett. Apparently looking in fighting shape and ready to roll, the Belfast puncher may give it one last big run at cruiserweight. Brian Peters promotes this “Hunky Dory” fight night with RTE televising the action.

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