Fighters in tip-top shape for a Brawl in the Hall in Castleisland

IN the world of boxing it has been a mandatory requirement that medical assistance and personnel are present at ringside for years now.

The organisers of The Brawl in the Hall are taking the requirement a step or two beyond that.

At ringside on Friday night, and with a keen eye to the condition of the combatants, will be Mr Bernard Tangney.

He’s the self proclaimed ‘Last man in Castleisland to let you Down’ – he’s the local undertaker.

Can you imagine getting a clatter during the fight and the whole place going around you and people in the crowd are stacked the wrong way up. You begin to gather your senses, regain your focus, reinsert your gumshield and find yourself staring at The Undertaker himself - and he staring back at you with grave concern etched all over his face!

There has been a lot of toing and froing over the past couple of weeks in the corners of the various fighters.

Nick Kerins has flown home from the USA to be in Edward ‘The Fonz’ Hartnett’s corner and he has his man in tip-top shape.

His opponent has David ‘Dauber’ Prendiville as his manager. Dauber, because of his experience of the fight game over many decades, had a choice of fighters to corner with.

Asked why he chose Jerome ‘Fagin’ Hartnett he had no hesitation in answering: “Isn’t he the only one of ‘em with a pub.”

“My fella,” as Dauber has taken to calling Fagin, “hadn’t much of an idea about the game until I got stuck in with him. The first thing he asked me was could he keep his glasses on during the fight. I told him I always carry a bag for glasses and teeth and bandages and I’ll be bringing all that down Friday night.

“I’m after hauling him away back. Some fella came into the pub a few weeks ago and gave him a video of one of the Ali and Frazier fights. He watched it and went away training on his own and was preparing for 15 rounds – he’s in deadly shape.

“He’s a lucky man I’m in his corner. He’ ll be the best prepared fighter there and Tangney needn’t bother looking at him,” Dauber concluded.

The Brawl in the Hall is certainly all set for Friday, July 8, at 8pm and is being staged by the Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club with Gerdie ‘Don King’ Murphy as announcer and promoter at the local community centre.

Tickets are on sale at a host of venues throughout the town and full bar facilities will be available at the centre on the night.

At the final weigh-in for the Brawl-in-the-Hall at the Sliabh Luachra Boxing Club on Friday night were from left: David ‘Dauber’ Prendiville, Jerome ‘Fagin’ Hartnett, Edward ‘Fonz’ Hartnett and Nick Kerins.