Boxing In Ireland: Bernard Dunne Defeats Reidar Walstad In European Defense

In 1998, Norway’s top fighter Reidar Walstad defeated European Super Bantam Champion Bernard Dunne in the amateurs but last night found the tables turned at the 8,000 seat Dublin venue The Point in front of a screaming pro Dunne audience.

Walstad pressed the action from the start as he tried to turn a height disadvantage to his favor but the quick footed Dunne kept his nemesis at arm’s length and picked off Walstad when the Scandinavian did manage to get in range.

Dunne displayed the abundant skills that allowed him take the vacant European title against Esham Pickering last November, accurately timing Walstad again and again.

Despite a cut above the left eye, Walstad showed great fortitude in continuing to stalk the Irishman and as the fight wore on, the Norwegian began to get to Dunne’s body.

But Walstad failed to put together a comprehensive offense at any time during the bout and that was mainly down to Dunne’s sharper abilities off a laser-like jab that painted the challenger all night.

In the end, Walstad’s activity level made the score close on one judge’s card but the other two saw Dunne the winner by wider margins as the
local hero kept his European crown via marks of 118-111, 116-112 and 115-113.

Dunne moves to 24-0 (14) and could be heading to an IBF eliminator showdown with former European, Commonwealth and British Champion Michael Hunter.

Walstad falls to 16-2-1 (10).

On the undercard, former British Welterweight Champion Neil Sinclair, 29-4 (24), may have seen any future career viability slip away as the 33 year old Belfast man was knocked out in the fifth round by Darlington’s “Fearless” Francis Jones, 17-3-2 (6), at light middle.

Jones has now won nine of his last ten since dropping a pair to Matthew Hatton and Ali Nuumbembe in 2005.

The heavy handed Sinclair dropped WBO Welter Champion Daniel Santos before getting knocked out in the second in 2000 but has now been stopped in three of his last four contests during the last two years.

Also on the bill, US based Irishman Oisin Fagan, 19-4 (11), won a razor thin 77-76 decision over Brighton journeyman Chill John, 8-11-1 (1), at light welter.

John had gone 1-11-1 in his last 13 contests but during that span had faced such top UK based talent as Jon Thaxton, Graham Earl, Gavin Rees, Lee Meager and Danny Hunt among others.