JJ McDonagh returns in June
19 May 2010 – By Steve Wellings
While brother Paddy was busy staving off the threat of Ciaran Healy inside the Limerick ring last weekend, JJ McDonagh offered his sibling plenty of vocal support from outside the ropes.
The Mullingar southpaws are building themselves up nicely on the big fight undercards and JJ expects to be active again in June at the Kings Hall.
I have a slot on the June 11 Paul McCloskey show, although no opponent has been named yet, McDonagh confirmed.
Im expecting it to be a four-rounder as my last one was over four as well.
Despite the super-middleweights first two contests having been scheduled for four rounds, neither went anywhere near that distance, ending in a perfect pair of one-round wins. Jevgenijs Kiselevs was dropped twice by the 62 prospect in Belfasts Holiday Inn last November and Mario Lupp tasted the same medicine in Dublins National Stadium earlier this year.
Classy 24-year-old JJ has been enjoying some excellent sparring with the likes of Michael Sweeney, Jamie Power and John Waldron, plus plenty of work with Luis Garcia who he describes as a very good, clever boxer.
Sparring with Brian Magee was top-class, he adds, in reference to the work he and Paddy did with Magee before the Mads Larsen clash. Brians the European champion now so it was great experience for us to be in there tuning him up before that bout.
Both McDonagh brothers are training with Tom Ward and Tony Conroy. Coventrys Conroy campaigned at light-welterweight from 1999-2003, winning the Midlands Area title in his last bout before calling it a day at 10-2 (4 KOs).
JJ also had some words of advice for his 18-year-old brother: Paddy boxed well tonight (versus Healy) but got a bit weaker towards the end of the fight. He didnt look to be doing as well in the last couple of rounds after catching Ciaran with the big right hooks.
On the plus side, Paddy has been very fit coming up to this fight, doing eight-round spars along with plenty of pad work.
Healy boxed well too though, JJ commented.
