Boxing In Ireland: Undercard Bouts Added To Macklin vs. Pintos Dec 5

Cuban super middleweight sensation Luis Garcia and new Belfast pro Jamie Conlan are the latest additions to the undercard for the Sierra Fight Night at the National Stadium, Dublin on Saturday, December 5.

The card is headlined by European Middleweight Champ, Matthew Macklin as he takes on Uruguayan Champ Rafa Sosa Pintos in a non title contest with the event live on RTÉ Two.

Former world junior amateur champion Garcia will be looking to extend his perfect professional record to six straight wins while flyweight Conlan will be looking to build upon an impressive debut win earlier this month.

Garcia is one of a trio of world junior amateur champions from Cuba who are now based in Cork and Gary Hyde, who manages all three, believes that Garcia is a future World Champion.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that Luis can go all the way,” said Hyde. “He’s sparred some of the top pro’s in the U.K. including a stint as the chief sparring partner for WBC Champ Carl Froch and I saw enough in those sessions to know he can go all the way.”

The 21-year-old Garcia who goes by the name of “El León” has already racked up five straight wins in the pro ranks with four of those coming via KO. “Everyone that sees him knows they are looking at a special talent,” said Hyde.

“The problem at this stage is finding opponents for him because so far he’s blowing away the kind of guys who would be expected to give a young pro the rounds he needs to develop in the pros.”

Another man looking to continue his professional development on the December 5 card is Belfast flyweight Jamie Conlan. The John Breen trained fighter made a successful pro debut at the Odyssey Arena in his hometown earlier this month and Breen believes that he’s a star for the future.

“Jamie’s really impressed me so far,” said the veteran trainer. “His attitude is very good and he’s adapted to the pro ranks very quickly. In the lighter weights you can fast track guys through the pro ranks as there isn’t the same number of boxers in those weights so I think if he keeps progressing and keeps improving in the gym there’s no reason why he can’t be knocking on the door for a title in 18 months.”

A pair of Irish title fights at super bantamweight (Paul Hyland V Eugene Heagney) and super middleweight (Anthony Fitzgerald V Lee Murtagh) also feature on the December 5 card alongside contests featuring unbeaten Dundalk lightweight Michael Kelly and exciting Dublin light welterweight Gavin “The Pimpernel” Prunty.

Tickets for the Sierra Fight Night priced from €40 are available from Ticketmaster (phone 0818 719 300 or visit ticketmaster.ie) and all usual outlets.