VOTE: The Liffey Crane Hire Irish Boxer of the Month – JUNE
Three home shows, big wins away, and plenty of medals – June was an absolutely momentous month for Irish boxing and it seems like the perfect time to start our new monthly feature.
Along with Liffey Crane Hire, we bring you our new Boxer of the Month award, looking to single out the best performing Irish fighter of the past month.
Public votes will be used alongside the choices of a panel of judges to determine the winner. Voting closes Thursday at midnight with results being announced Friday morning.
And what a month to start! The nominees are:
Ryan Burnett
Belfast
Bantamweight
The Antrim Road man brought the Sky Sports cameras back to the Titanic City when he made a big step up to challenge for world honours. The Adam Booth-trained 25 year old dominated reigning IBF king Lee Haskins en-route to a wide points decision to become Ireland’s only current world champion.
Paul Hyland Jr
Belfast
Lightweight
The Lagmore lad did what no one has ever done, stop Adam Dingsdale. Not only did he knock out the Englishman though, he did it inside a round. The entertaining scrapper ambushed his experienced foe with what was one of the most stunning break-out performances from an Irish boxer in recent memory.
James Tennyson
Belfast
Super Featherweight
The Poleglass puncher further enhanced his reputation for excitement with a six round war against Ryan Doyle. In a topsy-turvy fight, Tennyson began on top before recovering from being badly hurt to bludgeon Doyle into submission, with the Manchester-Dub’s corner pulling him out after six.
Luke Watkins
Swindon-Wexford
Cruiserweight
‘The Duke’ claimed the Irish title with a frightening one-punch knockout of Dubliner Ian Tims. A belt he had been chasing for a year, Watkins put Tims down and out with a right in the fourth.
Paddy Barnes
Belfast
Flyweight
In probably the toughest third fight ever taken by an Irish boxer, Barnes faced Romanian Silvio Olteanu at the Waterfront Hall. The double Olympic bronze medalist was made to work hard by the two-time European champion and former world title challenger, but Barnes would eventually prevail via majority decision after an immensely tough ten rounds.
Jono Carroll
Dublin
Super Featherweight
‘King Kong’ underlined his credentials with a win over talented unbeaten Johnny Quigley. Downing the Scouser twice in the second and using his physical strength to wear Quigley down – before withstanding a late charge – Carroll took a majority decision verdict after twelve in what is sure to be one of the fights of the year.
Kurt Walker
Lisburn
Bantamweight
The silkily skilled Canal man claimed his first major international medal at senior level at the Europeans in Kharkiv, Ukraine. The man to replace Mick Conlan proved himself to be a worthy successor with wins over a Georgian, Azeri #2 seed Tayfur Aliyev, and avenging a defeat against Italian Raffaele Di Serio to claim bronze.
Brendan Irvine
Belfast
Flyweight
The Wee Rooster claimed a European bronze medal following two good wins in Kharkiv. The Tokyo Olympic medal hopeful showed great maturity to defeat Turk Batuhan Ciftci and Spaniard Gabriel Escobar to guarantee his second major international medal.
Darragh Foley
Dublin
Light Welterweight
The Blanchardstown banger dealt with a late change of opponent to continue his charge up the rankings. ‘Super Foley’ faced a real handful in Jeffrey Arienza, but emerged victorious via technical decision after the bout was stopped in the fifth due to an accidental clash of heads.
Joe Ward
Moate
Light Heavyweight
Big Joe continues to fill the record books and claimed his third European gold medal at the Championships in Kharkiv. Ward eased past Scottish, and Italian opposition, before defeating Russian Muslim Gadzhimagomedov in the final to become Ireland’s first ever three time male European medalist.
Paddy McDonagh
Mullingar
Light Heavyweight
Returning after 25 months out, the slick southpaw outsmarted Stevie Collins Jr, downing the Dub in the first, to reclaim his Irish light heavyweight title at the National Stadium in Dublin.
Luke Keeler
Dublin
Middleweight
‘Cool Hand’ Luke claimed his first Irish title, amateur or pro, with a competitive win against Darren Cruise where he battled through almost one-handed following an injury to the right in the fourth round.
Cast your votes below:
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