SNAKE CHARMER!
Mccullagh has too much guile for Kennedy over 10 rounds
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TYRONE MCCULLAGH wants a crack at IBF super-bantamweight champion TJ Doheny. Speaking shortly after outpointing Josh Kennedy in the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Mccullagh revealed his plans to bypass the domestic scene and mix with top level talent.
“TJ is Irish, we are managed by the same team and he’s at my weight, so it’s not out of the question,” said Mccullagh.
“I know technically I’m not the best but I’m awkward and I’ll give anyone trouble.”
On the night the Derryman negated the marauding attacks of heavilytattooed Kennedy, who showed his character both in and out of the ring. “Handsome” Kennedy adopted a wide stance and looked to spear the jab as Mccullagh circled away from the Kent boxer’s lunges.
Kennedy had some joy early in the third but was later rocked and continued his press-and-slide tactics in a bid to close the range. Josh’s desire to make the most of this opportunity was never in question. Referee Reece Carter kept the action flowing.
By round five the pace had dropped and Mccullagh was snake-charming the challenger with his southpaw lead hand. By the seventh neither man was raking home combinations but Kennedy in particular had barely landed anything flush at all. Tyrone’s scything body work closed out the session and he employed enough movement to see out a relatively comfortable distance victory.
A similar pattern continued throughout the 10 rounds and judges Hugh Russell Jnr (99-91), Giulio Piras (9892) and Jose Martinez (96-94) awarded Tyrone victory and a fringe WBO strap.
Marco Mccullough came through a mini-crisis to outlast rugged Ruddy Encarnacion.
Belfast’s Mccullough worked the body and evaded Encarnacion’s wayward head for the duration of a spirited contest. Marco was slightly wobbled in the sixth, and the seventh saw the local boxer cut and shipping some meaty blows.
Mccullough dropped the Spanishbased Dominican in the eighth with a flash left hook. Reece Carter’s count was legitimate but the visitor did not appear hurt.
Encarnacion very nearly stopped Mccullough in a blood-and-thunder ninth round. Dropped heavily and seemingly on jelly legs, Mccullough somehow fought his way back in to the session and went toe-to-toe at the end.
Mccullough boxed smartly to the final bell and held on to win by scores of 95-93 (Hugh Russell Jnr), 97-91 (Grzegorz Molenga) and 96-92 (Lahcen Oumghar).
Belfast’s Steven Ward used his extra height and telephone pole jab to secure win number nine. Referee Hugh Russell Jnr has shown in the past that he isn’t afraid to issue a disqualification and
Rolando Paredes was the latest to feel his wrath. Frequent infringements with the head prompted the third man to throw Paredes out at 2-08 of round nine.
Paredes had a point deducted in the fourth for his first errant forehead. Significantly undersized, the Mexican was emphatic in his displeasure at the outcome.
Paddy Gallagher bludgeoned Jay Byrne to take home the BUI Celtic crown. David Irving counted Byrne out in round four after Jay suffered a shoulder injury.
Byrne showed some early right-eye damage and Belfast’s Gallagher was cut on his left eye in the third. Byrne then appeared to dislocate his left shoulder in the fourth and slumped to the canvas. Indicating his discomfort, the Dublin slugger effectively withdrew himself at 1-28.
In a professional repeat of an amateur grudge match Derry’s Sean Mcglinchey and Belfast’s Padraig Mccrory went to war. Mcglinchey took a knee in the fourth from a left hook and Mccrory prevailed 40-35 on Paul Mccullagh’s reckoning.
A sharp body shot by Coalisland’s
Conrad Cummings, delivered in the first of six rounds, disposed of Jan Balog. Eamonn Magill counted the Czech out at 2-21 and Mr Magill also took charge of Sean Mccomb’s 40-35 win over Petar Alexandrov. Belfast’s Mccomb was too fast and aggressive for the Bulgarian, who was deducted a point for repeatedly spitting out the gumshield.
Naas southpaw Gary Cully pounded Seaham’s Jordan Ellison to a thirdround defeat. Paul Mccullagh stopped the six-rounder 57 seconds into the third.
Ballymena’s Steven Donnelly was too active for Lithuanian survivor
Arvydas Trizno in a 40-36 formality. Hugh Russell Jnr officiated.
Paul Mccullagh scored 79-73 in favour of Australia’s Nathaniel May over Russian Ruslan Berchuk.
THE VERDICT Not the best fight to watch but winner Mccullagh has big plans after a clever performance results in victory.