Hill gunning for an Irish double after moving top alongside duo
TYRONE McCullagh took a significant step towards a possible shot at the British super-bantamweight title with a unanimous points victory over Josh Kennedy at the Titanic Exhibition Centre last night.
The 28-year-old Derry man, who entered the ring to Teenage Kicks, picked up the vacant WBO European super-bantamweight title, adding that to his British Boxing Board of Control’s Celtic belt, when handed victory by all three judges — 96-94, 98-92 and 99-91.
Both went into the fight with 11-fight unbeaten records and the opening round was a cagey affair, with McCullagh probably edging it with his snappy right lead.
Kent man Kennedy, who cheekily came into the ring singing Belle of Belfast City sought to take the fight to McCullagh but was repeatedly picked off by sharp pot-shots from the Derry fighter who was using his sharp footwork to great effect.
Southpaw McCullagh was in charge as they entered the third and the pattern continued as a game Kennedy found the impish McCullagh too slick as he counter-punched with ease and skipped away to leave his opponent punching the air.
Chants of ‘easy, easy’ went up from the McCullagh fans as the fourth round came to a close and their hero continued to dominate with his excellent defensive skills to which Kennedy had no answer.
While McCullagh does not carry damaging power, so often crucial in professional boxing, he makes up for it with his ring craft which was evidently far superior to what Kennedy possessed. The Kent fighter was trapped in a burning sense of frustration as McCullagh danced across the ring with hands low before waiting for the moment to strike with his quick one-twos.
Kennedy’s corner implored him to drive forward and apply pressure but it was all in vain as McCullagh was always one step ahead, clinically chalking off the rounds.
The sweat continued to fly from Kennedy’s brow throughout the last quarter of the bout as McCullagh continued to measure him up, rattling home right leads and straight lefts with ease.
McCullagh received the acclaim from his supporters and left the Titanic Exhibition Centre knowing he is ready for a much bigger test.
Meanwhile, Paddy Gallagher (right) also took a step towards a possible British title shot when he forced a stoppage against Dubliner Jay Byrne in the fourth round.
Byrne was on his feet complaining of an injured left shoulder but that was just after climbing off the canvas after going down from a solid left hook to the ribs. Belfast welterweight Gallagher was always in control of the eight rounder, despite suffering a bad cut above his left eye in the third round. Gallagher controlled the action in the opening round, neutralising the reach advantage of the Dubliner with his upper body movement and jolting jab. Then in the second Gallagher started to make Byrne feel his power as he connected with a series of body shots, which had the Dubliner wincing and vainly complaining about a low blow.
Gallagher took a few shots in the third as Byrne stood his ground and got through with a couple of decent right hands but the writing was on the wall at the start of the fourth as the Belfast man got on the front foot and did more damage to the body, referee David Irving calling a halt at 1:28.
Gallagher now holds the BUI Celtic title along with the British Boxing Board of Control Celtic belt.
In the battle of super-middleweight prospects, Belfast’s Padraig McCrory floored Sean McGlinchey of Londonderry in the fourth round on the way to a 40-35 victory. THE dream of an Irish double is very much alive for Scotland’s Calum Hill after he finished the second day of the Monaghan Irish Challenge tied for the lead.
Hill, who triumphed at the NI Open in August, posted a second-round 69 (-3) to join Portugal’s Ricardo Santos and Sweden’s Niklas Lemke on seven-under-par.
“It was a good round. My short game got me through it for twothirds of the round and then I put some nice shots together at the end,” said the 23-yearold. “The conditions were milder. There wasn’t any drizzle and the wind wasn’t as gusty, so the course played a fraction easier.
“When we played a practice round — me and a couple of pals — we felt it was a very tough course, so I’m very happy with seven-under after two rounds.
“Fourteen-under-par would be a very nice target, but I don’t know where that would put me.”
Overnight leader Rhys Enoch fell away after a round of 76, four-over. However, Irishman Paul McBride remains in contention, three shots behind the leaders, with compatriot Ruaidhri McGee a further stroke behind following his five-under-par 67.
McBride said: “I was happy enough as I’ve been struggling.”
Holywood amateur Tom McKibbin, playing on an invite, improved on his opening day 78 with a two-over 74 but he missed the cut alongside the likes of Dermot McElroy, Michael Dallat, JR Galbraith, Jonathan Caldwell and Cormac Sharvin.
Just seven Irish contenders made the cut. Joining McGee and McBride are Niall Kearney, Neil O’Briain, Kevin Phelan, Gavin Moynihan and Conor O’Rourke.