Future echoes
THE main event was not the only disappointment for Irish boxing fans, who also saw their two main undercard attractions defeated. Big time boxing was back in Dublin for a first arena show since 2014 and the 8,000-strong sell-out crowd created an atmosphere described by promoter Eddie Hearn as the best he had ever experienced. However, results on the night may mean that May 20, 2023, is looked back on as an outlier rather than the mark of a new dawn.
Naas lightweight Gary Cully was sensationally stopped in the chief support by unfancied Mexican Jose Felix. ‘The Diva’s’ star had been rising rapidly with a string of eye-catching finishes and the 3Arena crowd were whipped into a frenzy as he came to the ring, but silence would descend a few minutes later.
Following a cagey first two in this scheduled 10, Cully was timed perfectly by an enormous overhand right at the start of the third. Sent down heavily, the rangey southpaw rose at eight but took another count from referee Emile Tiedt soon after, being driven into the ropes and crumpling to the canvas. Attempting to regain control, a dazed Cully circled furiously, but Felix once again timed enormous shots right on the chin of the Irishman.
With his fighter cornered and shipping huge damage, trainer Pete Taylor threw the towel in, but this was missed by the referee, who was giving Cully every chance to make it through – and every chance to eat more clean punches.
Farcically, a member of the security team mounted the ring apron in an attempt to draw attention to the towel and Fred Tiedt eventually, mercifully, halted the contest with 2-34 of the round gone.
Felix, having suffered losses to Sandor Martin and Tyrone Mckenna in his past two outings, finds his career reinvigorated and will no doubt be seen on another Matchroom bill in the coming months. Undoubtedly supremely skilled and a sharp puncher, Cully’s defensive naïveté means that he now faces a major rebuild.
With the Terri Harper v Cecilia Braekhus title fight dropping off the bill that morning due to the Norwegian falling ill, Dennis Hogan found his own homecoming elevated up the card. The Kilcullen super-welter has for the past decade been based in Brisbane, where he has carved out a successful career. Defending his lightly regarded IBO trinket for the first time in what was his maiden professional fight in Ireland, the 37-yearold Hogan succumbed to a similar fate as Katie Taylor, with Liverpudlian JJ Metcalf too fresh and too strong.
While the extremely crafty Hogan scored well with sneaky short shots throughout the 12 rounds, he was rattled by Metcalf numerous times, most notably in the third, sixth, and seventh. In a messy fight, with Hogan bleeding quite heavily from a clash of heads in the sixth, the soon-to-be deposed belt-holder did his best work in the final third, but Metcalf would not be denied as he continues to enjoy a career renaissance with his biggest win yet.
The final cards read unanimously (117-110, twice, and 115-112) in ‘Kid Shamrock’s’ favour – a 12th-round one-point deduction from Hogan from referee Leszek Jankowiak for repeated losing of an ill-fitting gumshield proving inconsequential.
Returning to the ring following hand surgery, West Belfast superwelter Caoimhín Agyarko cruised past Chatham veteran Grant Dennis. Steadily upping the pace from the fourth onwards, Agyarko had Dennis momentarily reeling in the seventh but had to slow his attack after getting caught himself while trading. Resetting, Agyarko drove the Englishman to the ropes, piling on the pressure and having referee David Irving looking closely, but the tough Dennis saw out the stanza. Indeed, Dennis saw out the remainder of the 10, despite Agyarko’s best efforts as the Irishman claimed a unanimous decision with a trio of 100-90 scorecards.
Back into the swing of things following a frustrating period of his career, ‘Black Thunder’ Agyarko has designs on his own homecoming and will no doubt be pushing Hearn to return to Belfast in the near future.
Popular Phibsborough heavyweight
Thomas Carty claimed the first belt of his professional career, taking out Jay Mcfarlane to win the BUI Celtic heavyweight title. The eccentric Glaswegian attempted to pressure Carty early but was put down in the second by a sharp southpaw one-two.
Carty’s crisp punching was causing Mcfarlane all sorts of problems and he was dropped again in the third by a big backhand left. Going in for the finish, Carty sent Mcfarlane to the canvas with a flurry and, despite the Scot rising, referee Paul Mccullagh had seen enough with two seconds left in the round.
Now a free agent, having negotiated a release from his Top Rank promotional deal, Paddy Donovan put himself in the shop window with an impressive performance that will likely lead to further outings under Matchroom. The Limerick welterweight dominated
Sam O’maison, a recent British title challenger at super-lightweight.
Following an assured start, classy southpaw Donovan began to turn the screw in the second half of this scheduled eight-rounder. Under heavy fire in the sixth, O’maison slumped to the canvas and, while Mr Tiedt did not rule a knockdown, the bloodied Sheffield fighter’s corner had seen enough and tossed in the towel with 2-13 gone.
Opening the show, Eltham flyweight
Maisey Rose Courtney was given a tough six rounds by Waterfordbased Pole Kate Radomska. Though undersized, Radomska took it to the Matchroom prospect, scoring well with left hooks, but the talented Courtney was busy enough to squeak a deserved 58-57 decision on referee Padraig Ó Reachtagáin’s card.
THE VERDICT Mixed emotions as major boxing returns to Dublin.