Ireland’s Last Man Standing hit by THIRD fighter withdrawal

It’s going from bad to worse for Ireland’s Last Man Standing.

We are just eight days on from the official announcement of the eight-man line up for the Prizefighter-style tournament and a third fighter has pulled out of the running.

In addition to Padraig McCrory and Thomas Finnegan, Mayo’s Henry Coyle [19(12)-2(2)] has now confirmed that he will not be competing in the one-night single-elimination tournament at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday March 3rd.

The inclusion of the former Irish light middleweight title challenger was the one which raised the most eyebrows, with Coyle having been out of the ring for the previous four years.

The Chicago-based Geesala-born fighter has stayed fit since his last fight and admits that he had initially hoped to compete in the competition.

However, after some consideration, ‘The Western Warrior’ elected not to take part.

Coyle explained to Irish-Boxing.com how “I realised while at home for Christmas that I am no longer a three-round fighter. I would only be getting going when it was over. I was not entering to lose and was going in it to win it.”

“My engine is my greatest asset I had it once for four rounds but not now. I am an eight, ten, twelve round fighter.”

There seems to have been some sort of confusion regarding Coyle’s place in the Red Corner and Assassin-promoted tournament.

Coyle recalled how “I met the guys the night before I came back to Chicago. They still announced I was in it even though I pulled out – but it all happened so fast and grew legs.”

“I am very sorry if I have let anyone down especially people of Mayo who have supported me through thick and thin but I have got to do what is Best for Henry Coyle.”

“I wish Jonathan [Graham, Red Corner] the very best of luck with the promotion, he is a gentleman.”

Coyle is still keen to keep fighting and notes how “I would gladly fight the winner over 10 rounds. I am not done.”

“If Keeler and Cummings got something on there is a couple of fights left in me,”

In terms of Ireland’s Last Man Standing, the eight-man tournament currently has just five fighters and a trio of replacements are urgently needed.

Belfast’s Gerard Healy, Roscommon’s Darren Cruise, and Dublin-based Scot John McCallum have all publically put their names forward to step in