Boxing In Ireland: Limerick Duo Added To Yanjing Fight Night

While Andy Lee’s bout with reigning French and European Union Middleweight Champ Affif Belghecham will be the main focus of attention on this Saturday’s Yanjing Fight Night at the University Sports Arena two other Limerick boxers will be looking to make it a memorable occasion for the cities fight fans.

The World rated Lee headlines as he bids to take another step to World and European titles by leapfrogging Belghecham who is rated above him in both the World and European ratings.

Meanwhile on the undercard fellow Limerick men Jamie Power and Willie Casey will look to progress their own pro careers in front of a hometown audience.

Power will be looking to bounce back from the first defeat of his career which he suffered in an all Irish battle with Michael Sweeney on the undercard of Bernard Dunne’s World title defeat at The O2 in September.

The Limerick light heavyweight is eyeing another all Irish showdown with John Waldron (who also features on the Limerick card) and will be looking to banish the memory of the Sweeney defeat on Saturday night.

“It was hugely disappointing to suffer my first defeat on such a big stage and the fact that it was shown on RTÉ as well meant an awful lot of people got to see it,” said Power.

“Since the fight I’ve had concerned old ladies crossing the street in Limerick asking me if I’m ok so it seems like everyone in Limerick saw the fight which was a good and a bad thing I suppose.

“I’d had 6 good wins as a pro going into that fight and I was confident but I got caught with a good shot early on and the game plan went out the window then. I actually felt like I was coming back into it but then I suffered a cut over my left eye and to be fair the doctor had no choice but to stop it.

“I would have loved if the fight had gone on another couple of rounds because I truly believe I would have come on really strong in the second half of the fight and it could have been a different story but I suppose ifs, buts and maybes are no good at this point.

“It’s great to be able to get back into the ring so soon and in Limerick again. To fight in your hometown is something special. In fact it was being at Andy’s first fight in Limerick last year that convinced me that I had to give the pro game a try and aside from my last fight it’s gone well.

“I want to prove to the Limerick people that I’m better than the guy they watched on the telly recently. I’ve my sights set on winning the Irish title next year and this is the first step in that plan.

“I’m fighting a guy called Aleksandrs Dunecs, he’s only lost 4 of his 11 pro fights and he’s coming off a stoppage win last weekend. He has an all action style like me so I think it should be an exciting scrap for as long as it lasts. Hopefully I can get back to winning ways and get people to forget about my last fight.”

While Lee and Power both have a single blemish on their pro records fellow Shannonsider Willie “Big Bang” Casey remains unbeaten as a professional having scored his second pro win at the National Stadium in Dublin last month.

The 27-year-old featherweight will look to make it a hat trick of wins on Saturday night when he faces English opposition in the shape of Middlesbrough’s Michael O’Gara.

The scheduled 6 rounder will be Casey’s first professional outing in Limerick and he says he’s looking forward to putting on a show for his hometown fans. “My first two fights were in Killarney and Dublin and I had great support there so I can’t wait now to fight at home in Limerick,” revealed Casey.

“I don’t know too much about O’Gara but he has a reputation for being tough and he’s not afraid to take a few punches to get in a few of his own so it should make for an exciting fight. He might try to claim he’s related to Ronan O’Gara to get the Limerick crowd on his side but I don’t think he’ll fool people that easily!”

Although still in the embryonic stages of his pro career Casey is focused on making a “Big Bang” in the sport. “For now I just want to get as many fights as possible and work my way up the ladder.

“I think my style is far more suited to the professionals than the computer scoring system in the amateurs and I can feel myself improving all the time. The real learning is done in the gym and I’ve had some good spars with the likes of the Cuban Alexei Acosta who won a World Junior Gold medal and the Hyland brothers from Dublin.”

As for his nickname of the “Big Bang” Casey is happy to explain it’s origin. “I suppose I’ve always had a good dig on me and one particular coach from the amateur days christened me the “Big Bang” after I stopped a couple of his guys inside the distance so hopefully I can live up to that name in the pro’s now as well.”

The undercard for the Yanjing Fight Night at the University Arena also features Mayo light heavyweight John Waldron. The last time the Ballyhaunis native stepped in to a ring in Limerick was actually against Andy Lee in the Limerick man’s last ever amateur fight prior to his pro debut in 2005.

Waldron could soon find himself back in against Limerick opposition with a clash against Jamie Power on the cards for 2010. The card also features Leeds based Lee Murtagh who will have to get past Germany’s Marcen Gierke as he bids to secure an Irish Super Middleweight title fight against Anthony Fitzgerald next month.

Another man with Irish title aspirations is Irish – Canadian middleweight Matt O’Brien. O’Brien boasts an impressive record of 17 wins from his 18 pro outings and will look to impress in Limerick as he eyes showdowns with the likes of Jim Rock, John Duddy, Matthew Macklin and even home town favourite Andy Lee.

Doors open at the University Arena from 6pm with the first bout at 7:20. Fans wishing to catch all the action from the crucial World Cup play off from Croke Park between Ireland and France will also be catered for with the game shown live on the big screens at the arena in what promises to be a massive night of sport in Limerick.

Tickets for the Yanjing Fight Night priced from €40 are available from Ticketmaster (phone 0818 719 300 or visit ticketmaster.ie), The George Boutique Hotel in Limerick and all usual outlets.