Irish boxing title double bill added to Hunky Dorys Fight Night

Two mouth watering Irish title fights have been added to the next Hunky Dorys Fight Night, which will be headlined by Bernard Dunne at the National Stadium, Dublin on July 12th.

The “Pink Panther” Jim Rock will return to the ring as he attempts to become an unprecedented 4 weight Irish Champion by stepping up to Light Heavyweight to tackle Jonjo Finnegan.

A second Irish title fight on the card will see two reigning Irish champs clash when Light Welterweight kingpin Andrew Murray moves down a weight to challenge Peter McDonagh for his Lightweight belt.

Rock sees his clash with Finnegan as an opportunity to cement his place in Irish boxing history in what he admits will probably be his last ever appearance in the ring.

“I’ve made history by becoming the first Irish professional to win Irish titles at 3 different weights but I’d like to make that 4 because I think that would give me a bit of extra breathing space in terms of safeguarding that record.

“I know I’ve threatened retirement before but I think this fight will be it for me,” admitted the Dubliner who recently turned 36. “If I’m realistic I probably shouldn’t be fighting and my wife would certainly agree with that but there’s no other buzz quite like it. No matter what you achieve in business or in anything else you can never match the feeling of getting into that ring in front of a couple of thousand people. It’s the ultimate gladiatorial sport and that adrenalin rush is very hard to leave behind.

“What happens with me is that when I haven’t fought in a while I tend to put on a few pounds and then when I go back to the gym to get back into shape it always ends up with me climbing back into the ring just to spar a few rounds. That’s when I get the buzz back and you can’t beat the camaraderie and craic you get up in John Breen’s gym in Belfast.

“It’s buzzing there at the moment, Neil Sinclair has an EU title fight in Italy at the weekend, Martin Rogan is flying high after winning the prize fighter and will be fighting Audley Harrison next month in the U.K. and Paul McCloskey and Stephen Haughian are in great form as well so when you’re in the middle of those guys it really gets you motivated.”

Rock will need to be motivated if Finnegan is to be believed. Based in Burton-on-Trent the 28 year old’s roots are in Gort, Co. Galway and he’s desperate for Irish title success after rebounding from career threatening injuries last year.

“This fight has been talked about quite a few times in recent years and for one reason or another it’s never come off but finally it’s happening now and I can’t wait,” said Finnegan.

“I was in a bad car accident last year and the doctors told me I’d never box again but I was determined to get back in there and that experience has taught me that you have to make the most of any opportunities that come your way and grab them with both hands.
“I’ve a lot of respect for Jim, he’s been around the block and I know that I will have my work cut out but I’ll be in the shape of my life and I’ll be ready to take that Irish title.”

Rock admits to knowing little about Finnegan but realises that he is a major threat. “I know he’ll really be up for this, he’s been very active recently and he’s a warm up fight lined up as well so he’ll be ring fit where as I’ll have a bit of ring rust to shed after over a year out but I really want that fourth Irish title belt.”

The build up to the second Irish title decider on the card promises to be a distinctly frostier affair with a war of words already underway between the rival camps of Peter McDonagh and Andrew Murray.

McDonagh will be defending the Irish title he won in controversial fashion against Michael Gomez in 2006 while the undefeated Murray will be attempting to add the Lightweight belt to the Light Weterweight belt he already holds.

Both men have sparred countless rounds with each other in the past and both camps hold vastly differing views on the outcome of those sessions.

McDonagh’s manager Mark Roe said, “I wasn’t involved with Peter back then but I had heard at the time and Peter confirmed to me afterwards that he broke Murray’s jaw in two places during one of their spars. I don’t think it was anything malicious on Peter’s behalf, it was just one of those injuries that happens in sparring but it’s something to consider for those people that say Peter’s not a puncher.

“Peter’s a professional and he’s nothing against Andrew because he’s a nice kid but this is a big chance for Peter to impress and he’s working very hard in the gym for it. Sparring is sparring but all that goes out the window in a real fight but when you look at the experience Peter has against Andrew you can draw your own conclusions.”

Murray’s manager Mickey Helliet is bullish about his man’s chances. “Actions speak louder than words and we’ve wanted this fight for the last 18 months while we’ve only had silence from McDonagh during that time. In fact I think that’s a big psychological advantage to Andrew and means he’s won the first round.

“I truly believe that this is a foregone conclusion for Andrew as long as Peter actually turns up. I won’t believe it’s happening until the ring has cleared and the two guys are left standing there with the first bell about to go – even then I’ll have to pinch myself.

“Peter has pulled out of fights before, he was supposed to fight Oisin Fagan in Dublin and he pulled out of that and because of Andrew he nearly pulled out of the Gomez fight. Andrew’s trainer Paul Rees told me after one of their sparring sessions for that fight Andrew was so dominant that McDonagh was considering not going ahead with the Gomez fight. I know they had some pretty heated sparring sessions but I know Andrew always got the better of them.

Also featured on the undercard is the return of exciting Belfast puncher, Darren Corbett, Dublin’s Ian Tims, Castlebar native Keith Cresham and other bouts. Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night priced from €50 are on sale from Ticketmaster.ie and all usual outlets.