Headline News

Massive Irish heavyweight title fight sanctioned

The Boxing Union of Ireland have this afternoon sanctioned one of the biggest possible current Irish title fights.

A heavyweight title clash between MTK stablemates Con Sheehan [5(1)-0] and Sean Turner [10(7)-0] has today been green-lit by the sport’s governing body in Ireland.

The fight has long been mooted, however it was unable to be made to to Turner not having participated in a scheduled eight rounder. Last Friday however, Big Sexy gained eligibility for the belt with a second round knockout in Belfast of Igor Mihaljevic in a bout scheduled for eight.

Almost immediately the BUI have moved to sanction the ten-round title fight between the old amateur rivals and long-time friends.

Should a fight be agreed, it will be a rematch of the 2012 Irish Elite Senior final, in which Tipperary’s Sheehan prevailed on a scoreline of 25:10 under the old system.

Since turning pro, Dubliner Turner has attracted lots of attention with his big personality and his big knockouts, however the 25 year old has suffered plenty of frustration in recent times with fights falling through.

Former Elite amateur Sheehan, an EU silver medalist, initially turned pro in California with Virgil Hunter. However the 27 year old now finds himself fighting under Peter Fury in Bolton and has already gone the eight round distance twice.

It is a high quality fight that poses a fascinating clash of styles, with Turner’s notable power and Sheehan’s fantastic skill set.

A bout that will surely generate a lot of interest, it was recently voted the second most-wanted all-Irish scrap by Irish-Boxing.com readers.

It will be the first time the belt has been fought for since future unified world champion Tyson Fury, stablemate of Sheehan, stopped Martin Rogan in the fifth round in Belfast back in 2012.

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

Jamie Conlan joins Gavan Casey and Joe O’Neill for Episode 3 of The Irish Boxing Show:

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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