Radio preview

24 December 2008 – By Cormac Campbell

The January edition of the irish-boxing.com radio show is now online. Return to the homepage and click the link at the bottom of the page to listen to interviews with:.

Andy Lee, Rendall Munroe, Paulie Hyland, Oisin Fagan, Jim Rock and Darren Sutherland.

Below is a taster of some of the interviews.

Andy Lee

Limericks Andy Lee is hoping to secure a European title fight at Thomond Park in his home city next summer.

Detroit based Lee will be hoping to put a nightmare 12 months behind him and once again establish his credentials as the future of the world middleweight division.

Speaking to irish-boxing.com, Lee said that he has been eying up Munster rugbys HQ for a major title fight.

Im home now for a little R and R so its nice to be home for Christmas, he said.

The whole year has been a write off really, between losing and having surgery on my eye so I couldnt do all I wanted. But the two fights in Ireland were the two highlights of my career and not just the year.

Lee is expected to be back in action as early as February in the States and is hopeful a return to his native land can be secured by the mid-year point.

Im not sure about the early part of the year but definitely in the summer. Thomond Park in Limerick is a big new venue and Id love a title fight there. Maybe if we could get a European title fight or something we could have it there.

Darren Sutherland

Olympic bronze medallist and unbeaten professional Darren Sutherland will be back in action on March 6 in Manchester.

The Dubliner opened his professional account with a KO1 victory over Georgi Iliev at DCU on December 18, and after putting his feet up over Christmas will get down to the nitty gritty again early in the New Year.

Im taking my parents on holiday for a week as a treat at the start of the New Year. Im really looking forward to Christmas because I havent had a holiday in years, he said after his debut victory.

But Ill be back over to England on January 10 to start training again. I have just over eight weeks to get ready for the next fight on March 6 which is in Manchester.

Were guaranteed at least two fights a year in Ireland, so sometime at the backend of next year well be back.

Oisin Fagan

Oisin Fagan believes he can prove the doctors wrong by returning to the ring from a broken leg earlier than predicted.

Fagan underwent surgery on his shin after breaking his fibula in a clash with Amir Khan in London on December 6. Despite the injury occurring in the first round, Fagan fought on before succumbing to the lightening fast Bolton ace in round two.

Speaking to irish-boxing radio, Fagan said that he had never had an injury like it before.

For 30 years I played football and I never had an injury like this, he admitted.

Then two minutes in to a Sky PPV top of the bill and crack.

Dealing with the layoff will be difficult. Win, lose or draw the Dubliner had options which now must be reassessed.

Im very disappointed. This is the worst thing that has happened to me in my career. It is ridiculous Im disgusted. But what can you do about it? I can joke about it, but Im very down.

Despite a depressing diagnosis, Fagan believes he will return early and maintain his fitness during the layoff.

It was pretty serious. It was going up the fibula. They said the cast will be three months on and then they dont expect me in the ring until this time next year but Im going to prove them wrong. Ive already got myself a little swivel chair out the back with some wheels on and I can get up a pretty good sweat.

Im going to maintain my weight and maybe come back as a super-feather.

Rendall Munroe

European super-bantamweight champion Rendall Munroe says he has no qualms about facing Irelands former champion Bernard Dunne.

A fight between the duo has been on the tip of fight fans tongues for months with a war of words erupting between promoters Brian Peters and Frank Maloney.

Munroe won the crown by out boxing Kiko Martinez, the man who KOed Dunne in just one round in August 2007.

Despite apparent difficulties in getting the fight off the ground, Munroe told a press conference in Dublin that he respects, but does not fear the Irishman.

Hes a good boxer but do I look like the type of person who would have a problem fighting him? he beamed.

There is no good getting in the ring and saying I might win. Boxing is about believing in yourself. It is a game of 75 per cent belief and 25 per cent hard work.

I want to be known as someone who fought everybody. I dont want people to say Rendall was good but he dodged this one or that one. If they say Ive got to fight someone in Thailand, Ill go out there and fight. Im going back to work on Tuesday, and Ill be back in the gym on Wednesday and if they say Im fighting next week Ill say, lets fight.

Every step of the ladder is a step closer to a world title.

To listen to these interviews in full click the January radio icon at the bottom of the homepage. As always, feedback is welcome so send your comments and suggestions to editor@irish-boxing.com.