Mixed fortunes for Irish fighters on the road this weekend

There were mixed fortunes for Irish fighters plying their trade away from home this weekend.

No few fewer than five boxers were in action across three countries and four different shows on the May bank holiday weekend ensuring three wins to celebrate.

Tyrone McCullagh got the weekend off to a successful start with victory on top of a bill in Newcastle on Friday night.

The Derry super bantam registered a unanimous points win over Alvaro Rodriguez to push his record to 13(6)-0 and take a step closer to a world top 10 ranking.

‘White Chocolate’ put in a slick performance and cruised to a WBO European ranking title defence.

Speaking after the win McCullagh said “He was an awkward boxer and whenever I tried to attack him he was ducking down during shots, and that hampered me a bit. My performance wasn’t great but I got the win and that’s the main thing.

“That win may get me in the top 10 with the WBO and then I can start to push on for a world title. I believe I have the ability to fight for a world title, I just need to get the performance right.”

Aberdeen Scotland played host to two other title fights on Saturday night with Dublin duo Keane McMahon and Dylan McDonagh fighting for vacant BUI Celtic titles.

Both came up just short in entertaining clashes meaning both the welterweight and super bantamweight version of the straps remain in Scotland.

Jobstown’s McDonagh was on the wrong end of a 77/75 decision in his second successive title fight. The 33-year-old lost out to up and coming Scottish prospect Billy Stuart up at super bantam.

McMahon also failed to claim the title after a highly entertaining clash with Dean Sutherland. ‘The Iceman’ lost out on a referee’s scorecard of 78-74 suffering his first defeat of his career.

Fighting on the same night, but not as far North was Chris Blaney and the Navan man neither won nor lost.

‘The Ginja Ninja’ drew with old Last Man Standing rival Owen Jobburn in Manchester. The Meath fighter, who is two fights back from eye injury, could be back out as soon as May 24.

Rohan Date was also in action over the weekend, but fought further afield. The Waterford welter moved within one win of double figures with his seventh knock out win in Dubai on Friday.

Date took out Wanphihit Siriphana in the second round of a Badou Jack promoted fight night.