| Gomez-McDonagh bout could upstage BY LARRY COONEY
 Bernard Dunne returns
to Dublin’s National Stadium this Saturday to headline what looks
like another step in his progression towards a title shot against British-based
Noel Wilders.
But the real fireworks look set to be on an attractive undercard that
includes a mouth-watering Irish title bout between Manchester-based Dubliner
Michael Gomez and Peter McDonagh.
Promoter Frank Warren had hoped to match Gomez with Willie Limond for
the WBU lightweight title in Scotland next month but Gomez turned that
down in favour of a coveted Irish title clash with McDonagh.
Promoter Brian Peters said: “Michael has always wanted to fight
back home in Ireland and I’m delighted to give him the opportunity.
He’ll certainly get a fight from Peter because he’s wanted
this for so long and he knows a win over Michael would catapult him into
some big, big fights.”
But Gomez is clearly in no mood to accommodate McDonagh’s ambitions.
He said: “I’ll smash him up easy. I can’t wait for this
fight. I’ll be far more effective at lightweight than I was at super-feather.
“Making the weight was killing me. Lightweight should really suit
me and poor McDonagh is going to have to pay. I just can’t wait
to get my hands on that Irish title because I’ve been desperate
to fight in Ireland for years.”
Also on the same bill this Saturday evening are an eight round heavyweight
bout featuring Colin McKenna, a super-featherweight eight-rounder featuring
Keinin O’Hara and O’Hara’s stable-mate Stephen Haughian
in a four round light welterweight contest.
Nearer to home, Cavan man Andrew Murray who faces Balham’s Ian Reid
on a Mayfair Sporting Club show on February 2 at the Café Royal
recently joined some players from Watford FC as part of his training routine.
He said: “It was great to help out and I really enjoyed doing something
different. The lads were right on it and they certainly didn’t seem
the pampered footballer type.”
Based in St Albans, Murray is also lined up on the undercard of the Carl
Froch and Brian Magee showdown in Belfast in March. In his last fight
in November 2005 he secured a points win over the tough Nigerian Silence
Saheed and after three pro fights remains unbeaten.
Also in March, Birmingham Irish boxer Matt Macklin and Derry’s John
Duddy will share a boxing extravaganza at Madison Square Garden in New
York on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day.
Macklin faces Patrick Coleman who was knocked out by Duddy last July in
eight rounds. There has been speculation about a much anticipated bout
between Macklin and Duddy for sometime and much will depend on Macklin’s
performance in March.
Meanwhile Billy Corcoran and John O’Donnell both had impressive
victories over Frederic Bonifai and Matt Scriven respectively at York
Hall on Friday.
Welterweight John O’Donnell had a TKO decision in the fourth round
while superfeatherweight Corcoran had an 80-77 points decision over the
tough Frenchman.
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