Jono Caroll promises to replace Bernard Dunne as Dublin’s #1 son
It’s been almost a decade since Bernard Dunne captured the hearts of a nation and reinvigorated boxing in Ireland outside of an always-thriving Belfast.
For those 10 years, things have never been the same in Dublin and the surrounding areas and a Dunne-sized hole shadow has been cast over pro fighting in the capital.
The days of a sold out Point Theatre, massive press exposure, 700,000-plus TV audiences, and high profile fight nights have were hung up with Dunne’s gloves.
Willie ‘Big Bang’ Casey did threaten a revival, but the Limerick man’s days as a headliner and TV draw petered out after his defeat to the sensational Guillermo Rigondeaux in March of 2011. Matthew Macklin did something similar when he brought a Sky Sports broadcast card back to the city, but a surprise reverse to Sebastian Heiland meant Eddie Hearn and Matchroom have yet to return.
There was always Irish success to celebrate from big wins on big fight cards in Belfast and abroad, while the likes of Carl Frampton, Andy Lee, Ryan Burnett and Katie Taylor gave the whole country top end success to rejoice in.
However, while small hall shows have been regular and encouraging of late outside of Belfast there hasn’t been anyone to bring sustained success in terms of bringing the kind of shows that transcend beyond the hardcore boxing fan.
It’s seems to be something Jono Carroll believes he can amend.
While his management company MTK are currently refusing to attempt to have their boxers fight in the Republic of Ireland, ‘King Kong’ still believes he can be the fighter to generate the kind of excitement Dunne did late in the last decade.
The showman super featherweight, who has established himself not just as a genuine world title hope but an entertaining fan favourite of late, claims he wants to be give the South a world champion they can get behind.
The south of Ireland needs a world champion they can get behind.
One of there own.
Crazy as ever.
i want to be that world champion.
And i will be that world champion.
See it and achive it.@MTKGlobal#simple— jono carroll (@jono_carroll) August 9, 2018
