Dunne wins again and wants European Crown back by Tom Podmore Jul 14th 2008

Its coming up to a year since Dublin's Bernard Dunne shockingly capitulated in 86 seconds to touted but untested Spanish puncher Kiko Martinez at the salubrious surroundings of The Point Depot, losing his European super-bantamweight title and 24-fight undefeated professional record in the process. He took eight months out of the ring after a setback that relieved him of his high world standing, regrouping with a shut-out ten-round win over Felix Machado, a veteran former IBF super-flyweight champion from Venezuela, in April. The Dubliner wasn't gun shy in Mayo but a tad apprehensive of getting overly involved with an experienced southpaw who enjoyed a three-year reign as a world champion. He's always been a refreshingly honest fighter and said of that 30-minute performance at Castlebar's International Events Arena: "I wasn't completely satisfied with how it went. But then again, I'm a perfectionist. I like to get everything right but at least I'm back as a winner. That's the important thing. The confidence that was at an all-time high prior to my defeat is returning." And against another South American, albeit one without the esteemed credentials of Machado – Argentina's Damian David Marchiano – Dunne showed that confidence is improving with every step back, boxing with a swashbuckling swagger, and that he's learned the lessons of the Martinez thumping, boxing with a compact and tighter defence. He probably won't be happy with his latest showing, the perfectionist in him coming to the fore, but the road back to his old belt is looking smoother than it was five months ago. Win 26 from 27 (14 via stoppage) came after Dunne had completely dominated every single round in an intriguing contest, and experienced referee Emile Tiedt handing him his second ten-round shut-out in as many fights looked spot on. That emphatic 100-90 scoreline is almost impossible to argue with when you consider how coolly and crisply Bernard boxed at distance. Okay, so the Buenos Aires-based fighter might not be a world class operator, stopped or widely outpointed when leaving the confines of South America, but was tough and fairly capable. Rough and uncompromising Marchiano had been taken out in five rounds by one of the best bantamweights in the world, South Africa's hard-hitting IBO boss Silence Mabuza, last time out. No shame in that. It is, however, an indication of his level. He entered with solid-looking credentials, 15 wins and a draw in 20 (five inside), and Argentinean and South American titles in his trophy room. As said, he had a habit of losing the big ones, also unanimously outpointed by unbeaten Abner Mares last year and counted out in one back in 2006. But Dunne, despite his protestations, still won't be 100 per cent over that loss and has been matched as such. Pre-Kiko, Bernard was being touted as the next world champion from the Emerald Isle. A measured performance against former world title challenger Esham Pickering in late 2006 saw him procure the vacant Continental 8st 10lbs title, making a routine first defence against Yersin Jailauov in March of the following year. Norwegian puncher Reidar Walstad had beaten Dunne in the 1997 European Championships but was unanimously outscored in defence two. Then came the one-man Spanish Armada. Dunne, knocked down twice and halted before he could even land a decent punch, saw six years of hard work ended in less than 90 seconds. Gone was his European title, his top ten ranking with the four respected governing bodies and the chance of fighting a Canadian he'd beaten in the vest, silky IBF king Steve Molitor. However, the fact that ‘La Sensación' then lost the belt in his maiden defence, made to look a crude and one-dimensional slugger by swift Leicester switcher Rendall Munroe in March, suggests that result was an aberration. It would be interested to see a rematch, to see if any mental scars remain on the Irishman's part. But the 28-year-old is clambering for a fight with the man who beat the man, bull-strong Midlander Munroe. Dunne and his team have suggested that the Frank Maloney-promoted, Shinfield-trained stylist isn't too keen on the fight, preferring to feast on a host of undeserving and routine challengers before trying to secure a world title challenge. I don't share that sentiment. Whatever, it's a fight most would love to see. To this fight, and despite the best interests of Marchiano (8st 10 1/2lbs), who tried to drag the local hero into a close-quarter shootout, Dunne kept things at a distance from the first ding of the bell. He rattled the man from Argentina in the late stages of the first and by the second was scoring with solid straights and catching 90 per cent of the replies on his gloves, though did slip to the canvas. Marchiano was slipping further and further behind in the third, his face beginning to illustrate the story of the accuracy, sharpness and potency of the former European champion's blows. Ripping hooks to the body and solid, accurate left leads to the head over the next six minutes caused Damian, also 28 but shorter by an inch at 5ft 6in, more discomfort. It looked as if a stoppage, one coming from steadily breaking down his foe, was possible. That was reinforced in the sixth. Dunne (8st 11lbs) stunned the pocket-sized Buenos Aires native with a left hook and then followed through with a fast-handed uppercut that had the referee taking a closer look, albeit briefly. Instead of going all-out for the early finish, however, Bernard used his feet and sharp jab to pick the points up, surely knowing that he'd won every single round at that point. Rounds eight, nine and ten saw the former top-class amateur, never beaten in Ireland amateur or pro before the Martinez fight, consolidating his win with measured distance boxing. The bronzed Argentine tried to draw Dunne into a fight, but the Harry Hawkins-trained stylist didn't oblige and looked as if he could do another ten rounds at the final bell. Hopefully the fight with Munroe can be sorted out between the respective promoters, Mr Maloney and Mr Peters. Whether it happens in Dublin or the Midlands – Leicester or Nottingham – it's a big fight and one worth waiting for. Veteran Jim Rock created a bit of history for himself on the Brian Peters Promotions undercard at Dublin's National Stadium. The self-styled ‘Pink Panther', who's pro career started in this city in November 1995, won an Irish title at a fourth weight (light-heavyweight) with a seven-round knockout over tough and capable Galway-rooted, Burton-based Jonjo Finnegan (12st 3lbs). Jim is the first man to achieve the feat of being a four-weight Irish champion and also became the first to halt the Englishman – David Irving completing the count of ten at 2-15 of the seventh. For what its worth, Rock, 36 and who failed to confirm whether this was the last time he'd lace the gloves in competitive action, was the in the lead at the time of the finish, 58-56 for me. The pink-shorted Dubliner has had quite a career. He won the Irish super-middleweight belt at this arena in 1999, halting Doncaster's Michael Alexander (now a referee) inside a round. A year later Allan Gray was outpointed for the 11st title and the middleweight strap was added to his collection in 2006, stopping Kevin Phelan in seven rounds at the National Stadium. The fourth has also arrived at that venue, a place where he's never tasted defeated. And Rock, boxing for the first time in 16 months, must also love fighting men from Burton-on-Trent. He outpointed a future Midland Area light-middleweight boss over six in 2004, polished portsider Matt Galer, and has now beaten another Errol Johnson-trained boxer from the Staffordshire brewery town. Let's hope he retires before he can get to up-and-coming Burton light-middleweight Duane Parker, undefeated in four. In fact, Rock has gone 10-0 against Midland-based men. For taller Jonjo, 28, its his third loss in title challenges. He could have no complaints with his defeat to Neil Tidman for the vacant Midland Area 12st title in March 2007, but looked desperately unlucky against Welsh farmer Mark Phillips, losing a ten-round decision for another vacant belt, the British Masters light-heavyweight title, in September. Still, it's a miracle the former ABA semi-finalist got the chance to box for the Irish title, a fight that has been mooted for the last 14 months. He suffered a near-fatal car crash last November and was told he wasn't going to box again. Finnegan shrugged that off and was back in action six months later, outscoring old rival David Pearson over four at the atmospheric Meadowside Leisure Centre in his hometown. But Rock, who registered his 29th win in 33 (12 quickly) and 11 in 11 in Dublin, was a step too far. Capable enough to take a peak Takaloo to the ninth in 2003, the John Breen-trained local (12st 2lbs) looked to dictate the early action with a sharp left lead. He continued to use that punch to good effect throughout the next two, stopping the younger, taller fighter getting too close. Rounds four and five were good for Jonjo, who brought around 60 fans with him from Burton and had a large contingent of his Irish-based family cheering him on. The First Team-promoted ticket-seller started to find range with his shots and tagged Jim with several solid hooks, to both head and body. There was plenty of time for Finnegan to turn it around. Rock, shorter by three inches at 5ft 11ins, got his accurate jab working again in the sixth and then forced the co-challenger to the ropes in the seventh with a cracking right hand. Another right found its target soon after and an avalanche of punches to the body sent game and willing Jonjo to the floor. He tried gallantly to muster the resolve to drag himself up but couldn't and the referee brought an end to the 30-minute bout with 45 seconds left in the seventh. Good finish to a good fight. Although Finnegan suffered his first stoppage defeat and first knockdown in the professional ranks, now with 11 wins in 18 (four defeats, three draws), there was nothing to be ashamed of. He put in a cracking effort and it's surely only a matter of time before a title ends up on his mantelpiece. The second Irish title scrap on the bill, the lightweight showdown between Cavan's Irish light-welterweight boss Andrew Murray and defending 135lb champion Pete McDonagh, Galway via Bermondsey, London, went the way of the challenger. Mr Tiedt awarded the former St Albans-based amateur champion a 100-94 final tally that indicated that the former Southern Area champion shared four of the sessions yet failed to win any, something that looked just about correct. I had the now-deposed champion winning a round for a closer 99-94 scoreline, incidentally. McDonagh famously won the 9st 9lbs belt at this venue in early 2006, stopping Dublin-born Michael Gomez in controversial circumstances (the unpredictable Gomez quitting during the fifth, an ending that led to cries of the bout being fixed). This was his first defence but didn't have the tools to repel a quality challenger who has improved since appearing on Brian Peters' cards. Murray was the puncher in the fight, but didn't really hit hard enough to trouble a man who's only quick defeat came on a cut, last time out against Giuseppe Lauri in Italy. Pete showed plenty of ambition, scoring with enough hard shots to make a lesser man lose heart, but Andrew's combinations proved decisive. His rights to the body were particularly effective and though he was given a sterling argument by a solid little fighter, now 11-13 (2), Murray was worth his six-point winning margin. Both weighed 9st 8lbs 8oz, albeit after McDonagh made a second trip to the scales on Friday afternoon, and Murray is now 13-0 (six of which coming inside) and a two-weight Irish champion. A man that Murray has been mooted to meet in the future, former Irish light-welterweight titlist Oisin Fagan (10st 4lbs), added the 22nd win onto his 27-fight ledger (13 stoppages, five defeats) with a comfortable six-round decision over solid-punching Latvian Konstantin Sakara (9st 12lbs), now 1-3-1 (1). Fagan, 34, has a bit of talent and was good enough to take slippery former IBF lightweight champion Paul Spadafora to a ten-round split last year. He also took much-touted Verquan Kimbrough to a 12-round split decision last December, reportedly looking unfortunate not be given the nod. Oisin has now been pencilled in for a rematch with Kimbrough and was far too rounded for the willing but limited 25-year-old Eastern European. The Dubliner hit well with both hands and brought body shots into play over the last three rounds to register a 60-54 score from Paul McCullagh. Darren Corbett (14st 5lbs), the former Commonwealth and Irish cruiserweight champion from Belfast, made a welcome return to action after a 51-month absence and got back in the win column for the first time since April 2003. The hard-hitting Northern Ireland scrapper ran out a close but deserved points winner over durable Remigijus Ziausys (14st 2lbs), Lithuania, in a six-rounder. The 36-year-old, 27-4-1 (16), drifted away from boxing after suffering a six-round stoppage to unheralded Karim Bennama in Belfast back in April 2004. In his pomp, 1995-1999, he was a capable and exciting puncher who beat the likes of Rob Norton, who challenges for the vacant British cruiserweight belt in September, Neil Simpson, the current British Masters cruiserweight champ, and Noel Magee. Ziausys was tough, stopped only once whilst compiling a modest 6-13 (4) record entering, but never likely to derail Corbett's last comeback. Darren appeared to rattle the durable import on a couple of occasions but lacked the sharpness to get the job done quickly. Instead of wasting energy looking for the spectacular finish, something he would have done in the past, he worked well with the always-heavy right and got 18 minutes of good action under his belt. Referee Irving correctly raised his hand at the final bell, 58-57 for the Boxing Union of Ireland official. Dublin cruiserweight Ian Tims (13st 7lbs) improved to 3-0 (all on points) with a four-round decision over Jevgenijs Andrejevs (13st 12lbs), now with eight wins in 30 and who once extended British light-middleweight boss Ryan Rhodes over eight in 2006. He has packed a bit of weight on since then and was no match for the 28-year-old former top-rated amateur, leaving a 40-36 loser. Mr McCullagh handled. Another Dublin-born fighter to win on points, Huddersfield-based bantamweight Eugene Heagney (8st 9lbs), had a routine night against Kemal Plavci (8st 3lbs), a 30-year-old Serbian who's taken Don Broadhurst and Luke Wilton the distance on previous visits to British and Irish shores. The West Yorkshireman, now 7-1 (all points), holds a victory over reigning Irish bantamweight boss Colin Moffatt and boxed well to earn a shut-out scoreline from Mr Tiedt over a good four.

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