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boxing, FITETV, Super Channel

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CLASH 3 DANNY O’CONNOR VS. STEVE CLAGGETT

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WBC Silver International Junior Welterweight Championship

March 17, 2018 * House of Blues * Boston, Massachusetts

LIVE ON PPV & SUPER CHANNEL
10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
St. Patrick’s Day Clash 3
 
No. 1 world-ranked junior featherweight T.J. Doheny
bringing Irish “Power” to Boston
 
Mar. 17 on PPV & Super Channel
LIVE from Boston
 
Plus, special Dropkick Murphys live acoustic set
NEW YORK CITY (March 13, 2018) – Ireland’s undefeated, No. 1 mandatory world junior featherweight contender T.J. “The Power” Doheny(18-0, 13 KOs) will put his record and status on the line this Saturday (Mar. 17) in the eight-round co-featured event on the “St. Patrick’s Day Clash 3” Pay-Per-View, card, also airing in Canada exclusively on Super Channel, live from the House of Blues in Boston.
Local fan favorite, Irish-American Danny “Bhoy” O’Connor (29-3, 11 KOs), fighting out of nearby Framingham, MA, will make his first World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver International junior welterweight title defense against Canadian challenger Steve “The Dragon” Claggett (26-4-1, 17 KOs).
“St. Patrick’s Day Clash 3”, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, is presented by Murphys Boxing in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing. The popular Dropkick Murphys will play a live acoustic set prior to the main event.
Integrated Sports Media will distribute “St. Patrick’s Day Clash 3” in the United States on cable, satellite and digital PPV via iN Demand, Vubiquity, DISH and FITE.TV app and website for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.
Viewers in Canada will be able to see it live on Super Channel, which will showcase Calgary’s rising star Steve Claggett to the entire country on Saturday, March 17.
Fans around the world can also order “St. Patrick’s Day Clash 3 via FITE TV live streaming platform (excluding Canada) for $24.95. For details visit www.fite.tv
Preceding the PPV fights, 8-10 p.m. ET / 5-7 PT, four undercard bouts will be available to watch live and for free on FACEBOOK FIGHT NIGHT.
The 31-year-old Doheny takes on former International Boxing Organization (IBO world champion “Machine-Gun” Mike Oliver (26-4-1, 17 KOs) in the eight-round, co-featured event. A southpaw like Doheny, Oliver is a familiar figure in Boston having been a five-time New England Golden Gloves champion.
Doheny is a native of Ireland, who has lived in Australia, but he recently resettled in Boston’s predominantly Irish section of Dorchester. He is a five-time Irish National Champion who has more than 150 amateur matches, including a victory over Belfast’s Carl “The Jackal” Frampton (26-1, 14 KOs), who is a two-division world champion as a professional fighter.
Last December, Doheny traveled to Bankok to fight Thai favorite Pipat Chaiporn (44-10-1) in a International Boxing Federation (IBF) eliminator to determine the No. 1, mandatory contender for IBF world champion Kenichi Ogawa (23-1, 17 KOs), of Japan. Doheny emerged with a win by12-round split decision (117-11, 116-112, 113-115).
Against Oliver, Doheny will be risking his undefeated record and IBF No. 1 contender rating, but Ogawa is also a veteran southpaw like Oliver, who is viewed by Murphys Boxing and Team Doheny as a good opponent to better prepare Doheny for Ojawa.
O’Connor (29-3, 11 KOs), who was a 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate, as well as the 2008 National Golden Gloves and US Future Stars champion as an amateur, is coming off .a third-round knockout of previously unbeaten Daniel Gonzalez (14-0-1) for the vacant WBC Silver Intercontinental crown last November at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.
Calgary-native Claggett (26-4-1, 17 KOs) hit the road last October and upset previously undefeated Yves Ulysse, Jr. (14-0) in his backyard for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) North American super lightweight title. Neither Claggett’s IBF North American nor his NABA USA title will be at stake versus O’Connor.
Top New England prospects, “The Silent Assassin” William Foster III (6-0, 6-0 (5 KOs) and Irvin Gonzalez, will be showcased in a pair of six-round matches.
Foster, a lightweight from New Haven, CT, faces former WBC International bantamweight champion Nick “Kanyankole” Otieno (31-13, 13 KOs)., Reigning UBF All-American super featherweight champion Gonzalez, of Worcester, MA, takes on a fellow unbeaten featherweight prospect, Ugandan Sulaiman Segawa (9-0, 3 KOs).
On Facebook Fight Night, New England champion Greg “The Villain” Vendetta (17-2-1, 10 KOs), Stoneham, MA, vs. Engleberto Valenzuela (11-12, 3 KOs), Mexico, 6 rounds; Russian welterweight Yurik Mamadov (6-1, 3 KOs), Brooklyn, NY, vs. Daniel Sostre (13-16-1, 5 KOs), Puerto Rico, 6 rounds; featherweight Amanda Pavone (2-0, 1 KO), Burlington, MA vs. Sarah Click (pro debut), Framingham, MA, 4 rounds; lightweight Tomas Romain (5-1), NY vs. Israel Rojas (13-20, 5 KOs), Mexico, 6 rounds.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @IntegratedPPV, @SCSportsTV, @FiteTV, @konightboxing, @DropKickMurphys, @StarBoxing, MurphysBoxing
Follow these fighters on Twitter: @Doc_Boxing, @SDragonC
amateur boxing, boxing

Team USA defeats Team Ireland, 8-4 In USA Boxing’s 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour

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BOSTON RESULTS
BOSTON (March 13, 2018) – Team USA defeated Team Ireland, 8-4 , last night (Monday) on the first stop of the three-city 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour, at Club Royale Entertainment Center in Boston’s historic theater district.
Two of the best amateur boxing squads in the country, featuring numerous 2020 Olympic hopefuls, had a major showdown to the delight of the mixed crowed of supporters of both programs.
“It was a fantastic night of boxing,” said Team USA head coach Billy Walsh, who used to guide Team Ireland’s boxing program. “The real winners were the boxing fans, American and Irish, supporting these two young teams. I was really happy with our performance as well as theirs.”
The USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour continues this Thursday (Mar. 15 at) the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass., and concludes Wednesday, Mar. 21 at The Manchester Downtown Hotel in New Hampshire.
All the duals will begin at 7:00 p.m. EST and tickets will be made available for purchase in the coming weeks. Each city will showcase up to 12 bouts, which will all be live streamed, free of charge, on USA Boxing’s website (www.usaboxing.org).
Honorary captains Irish” Micky Ward and Kevin “The Clones Colossus” McBride, respectively, led Team USA and Team Ireland into the ring.
A USA Alumni Association gathering was held prior to the show.
In the final bout of the night, American super heavyweight Richard Torrez, the 2016 Youth World Championship bronze medalist and 2017 USA Boxing Elite National champion, closed the show in style against four-time Irish National Champion Dean Gardiner, 3-0.
Bombs away was the theme in the heavyweight match as Irishman Kiril Afganasev powered his way past Adrian Tillman, 2-1.
Lanky American light heavyweight Khalil Coe decisioned six-time Irish National champion Caoimhin Hynes.
Three-time European champion Michael Nevin edged 2016 Youth World Championship team member Nikita Ababiy, 2-1, in a back-and-forth middleweight contest.
One of America’s brightest prospects, 2017 Elite World Championship bronze medalist Troy Isley, showed everything in his arsenal against eight-time Irish National champion Brett McGinty, emerging with an impressive unanimous decision in a toe-to-toe middleweight clash.
Eight-time Irish National champion Kierion Molloy won a split decision over American welterweight Quinton Randall, a 2017 Elite World Championship team member.
 
In a special match-up between two Internationally decorated light welterweights,2016 Youth World Champion and 2017 Elite Continental Championships silver medalist, Delante “Tiger” Johnson, took a split decision from eight-time Irish National champion Wayne Kelly.
 
Keyshawn Davis pounded Irish light welterweight George Bates en route to a dominating unanimous decision victory, in which the American showcased his numerous skills.
American lightweight Marc Castro, who moved up one weight class, turned in an auspicious “Elite” class debut, defeating Francis Cleary by way of a unanimous decision. The highly-regarded Castro was a two-time World champion as a junior and youth boxer.
Aggressive American welterweight Oshae Jones won a hard-fought split decision versus Grainne Bates in an action-packed match from start to finish. Jones was a 2017 Elite Women’s Continental Championships silver medalist.
World Championships silver medalist lightweight Kellie Harrington won a unanimous decision over American lightweight Stacia Suttles in a very competitive match.
Four-time 2017 international gold medalist Virginia Fuchs opened the night with a victory over Irish flyweight Lauren Hogan, when the referee stopped the contest in the second round.
 
Complete individual & team results:
 
 
BOSTON RESULTS
 
SUPER HEAVYWEIGHTS
Richard Torrez, Tulare, California, USA
WDEC (3-0)
Dean Gardiner, Tipperary, Ireland
 
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Kiril Afanasev, Dublin, Ireland
WDEC (2-1)
Adrian Tillman, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
 
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Khalil Coe, Jersey, City, New Jersey, USA
WDEC (3-0)
Caoimhin Hynes, Belfast, Ireland
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Michael Nevin, Laois, Ireland
WDEC (2-1)
Nikita Ababiy, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Troy Isley, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
WDEC (3-0)
Brett McGinty, Derry, Ireland
WELTERWEIGHTS
Kieron Molloy, Galway, Ireland
WDEC (2-1)
Quinton Randall, Katy, Texas, USA
LIGHT WELTERWEIGHTS
Tiger Johnson, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
WDEC (2-1)
Wayne Kelly, Laois, Ireland
 
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Keshawn Davis, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
WDEC (3-0)
George Bates, Dublin, Ireland
Marc Castro, Fresno, California, USA
WDEC (3-0)
Francs Cleary, Mayo, Ireland
WOMEN WELTERWEIGHTS
Oshae Jones, Toledo, Ohio, USA
WDEC (2-1)
Grainne Bates, Dublin, Ireland
WOMEN LIGHTWEIGHTS
Kellie Harrington, Dublin, Ireland
WDEC (3-0)
Stacia Suttles, Bronx, New York, USA
WOMEN FLYWEIGHTS
Ginny Fuchs, Kemah, Texas, USA
RSC2 (1:57)
Lauren Hogan, Offaly, Ireland
 
USA:      8              IRELAND:   4
 
 
To stay up to date on the USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour click here.
USA vs. Ireland Schedule
March 15: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Mass.
March 21: The Manchester Downtown Hotel, Manchester, N.H.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
amateur boxing, boxing

2001 Fight of the Year Reunion planned for final stop of 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Tour

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Special guests Micky Ward & Steve Smoger
March 21 in Manchester, NH
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 12, 2018) – USA Boxing is hosting a special reunion, featuring two key members of the 2001 Fight of the Year, to be part of the final stop on the 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour, March 21 at the Manchester Downtown Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Presented by Corona Premium, the Manchester event will start at 7 p.m. EST, and it also serves as a fundraiser for another partner of the show, the Manchester PAL Boxing Club.
Tickets are reasonably priced at $20.00 for general admission, $30 for reserved ringside seats, and available to purchase on Seacoast Ticket Agency’s website,www.seacoastticket.com, the official ticket distributor for the event.
The 2001 Fight of the Year was held July 13, 2001, at Hampton Beach Casino in Hampton, NH., and it is still considered one of the greatest matches ever broadcast on ESPN. “Irish” Micky Ward won an incredibly entertaining, back-and-forth junior welterweight match-up with “boxing cult” hero Emanuel Augustus, by way of a 10-round unanimous decision that was much closer than the judges’ scoring indicated (98-90, 96-91, 96-94).
The high-profile win positioned Ward for what turned out to be his epic Gatti trilogy, while Augustus went on to become one of the most dangerous, upset-minded opponents in boxing. Ward and the third man in the ring that night, Hall of Fame referee Steve Smoger, will host a USA Alumni Association event Tuesday, Mar. 20 at The Shaskeen Pub & Restaurant (909 Elm St. in Manchester), starting at 6 p.m. ET, and attend the following night’s (Mar. 21) USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour finale in Manchester.
“I’m honored to be invited by USA Boxing to represent all professional officials who spent so much valuable time in the amateurs on their way to their positions in the pros,” Smoger said. “I’m looking forward to being part of everything planned.
“Anytime I spend time with Micky is enjoyable, in and out of the ring, and we’ve truly formed a bond. I worked six or seven of his fights, including his first in Atlantic City, around the time we were both breaking in. We spend time together every year at the International Boxing Hall of Fame inductions. He’s such a pleasure to be around. He treats people very well. His history in the ring and personality make him a big fan favorite. He’s the same guy he’s always been but he still has the heart of a warrior.”
Bernard Dunne celebrating world title anniversary
Irish Team Performance Director Bernard Dunne will celebrate the ninth anniversary of his WBA super bantamweight title-winning performance, Mar. 21, 2009, the same date as the USA-Ireland Northeaster Boxing Tour stop in Manchester.
Dunne (28-2, 15 KOs), fighting out of Dublin, fought professionally between 2001-2009. He was 119-11 as an amateur, including 13 Irish titles.
In 2009, he stopped Ricardo Cordoba in the 11th round at O2 Arena in Dublin, to become world champion.
USA stars out in Manchester
USA Boxing will be looking to conclude the tour on a high note with expected boxers on the show such as 2017 four-time international gold medalist Ginny Fuchs (Kemah, TX), 2017 Elite Women’s Continental Championships bronze medalist Oshae Jones (Toledo, OH), 2017 World Championships silver medalist Duke Ragan (Cincinnati, OH), 2017 World Championships bronze medalist Freudis Rojas (Las Vegas, NV), 2016 USA Nationals heavyweight champion Jared Anderson (Toledo, OH), and 2016 Youth World Championship bronze medalist Richard Torrez (Tulare, CA). All boxers and bouts are subject to change.
To stay up to date on the USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour click here.
USA vs. Ireland Schedule
March 12: Royale Entertainment Complex, Boston, Mass.
March 15: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Mass.
March 21: The Manchester Downtown Hotel, Manchester, N.H.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
boxing, FITETV, Super Channel

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CLASH 3: DANNY O’CONNOR VS. STEVE CLAGGETT

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WBC Silver International Junior Welterweight Championship

March 17, 2018 * House of Blues * Boston, Massachusetts

LIVE ON PPV & SUPER CHANNEL
10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
St. Patrick’s Day Clash 3
 
Danny O’Connor vs. Steve Claggett title fight &
No. 1 junior featherweight contender T.J. Doheny
 
Mar. 17 on PPV & Super Channel
LIVE from Boston
 
Plus, special Dropkick Murphys live acoustic set
NEW YORK CITY (March 7, 2018) – “St. Patrick’s Day Clash 3” will air on Pay-Per-View, as well as on Super Channel in Canada,starting at 10 p.m
. ET / 7 p.m. PT, Saturday night, March 17, live from the House of Blues in Boston, featuring a championship match between hometown favorite Danny “Bhoy” O’Connor and Canadian challenger Steve “The Dragon” Claggett. A special Dropkick Murphys acoustic set will be aired live prior to the main event.
“St. Patrick’s Day Clash 3”, presented by Murphys Boxing, will be distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media on cable, satellite and digital PPV via iN Demand, Vubiquity, DISH and FITE.TV app and website for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.
Viewers in Canada will be able to see it live on Super Channel which will showcase Calgary’s rising star Steve Claggett to the entire country on Saturday, Mar. 17.
Fans around the world can also order “St. Patrick’s Day Clash 3 via FITE TV live streaming platform (excluding Canada) for $24.95. For details visit www.fite.tv
“We can’t wait for this show,” offered promoter Ken Casey, also the front-man for Dropkick Murphys. “This is going to be our best St. Paddy’s Day show. Danny O’Connor-Steve Claggett is a ShoBox or HBO Boxing After Dark quality fight. Plus, the No. 1 world contender, T.J. Doheny, is fighting a former top contender; undefeated featherweights Irvin Gonzalez and Sula Segawa are 17-0 between them, and William Foster, one of the most talented young fighters in the country, fights a veteran of 44 pro fights who has never been stopped. This is truly a world-class event at the most fun venue in Boston, House of Blues. The Dropkick Murphys will be playing a set before the main event. This is a show you don’t want to miss!”
The 10-round main event between extremely aggressive junior welterweights O’Connor and Claggett figures to be a barn-burner from the opening bell to the end. Neither fighter takes a step backwards, nor do they ever stop firing punches, which makes for an incredibly entertaining, can’t miss showdown.
“I’m going to pick Claggett apart,” the 32-year-old O’Connor predicted. “A lot is at stake and that’s why I pushed for this fight. I could have fought an easier opponent, but I didn’t want to. I’m going to break into the elite level of boxing and this is a step towards that.”
O’Connor (29-3, 11 KOs), fighting out of Framingham, MA, will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver International junior welterweight title for the first time. The popular boxer was a 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate, as well as the 2008 National Golden Gloves and US Future Stars champion as an amateur.
The aggressive Irish-American southpaw has won his last three fights, including a third-round knockout of previously unbeaten Daniel Gonzalez (14-0-1) for the vacant WBC Silver Intercontinental strap last November at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.
“I’m happy to be fighting at home in front of my support system,” the affable O’Connor said. I have a great fan-base and it’s motivating to know I will again have the chance to showcase my talent in front of them. I’m grateful for the continued support along my boxing journey.”
The 28-year-old Claggett (26-4-1, 17 KOs) has resurrected his career since he decided to drop back down to super lightweight three fights ago, all victories,including a pair of title-winning 10-round decisions over previously unbeaten opponents, Yves Ulysse, Jr. (14-0) for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) North American super lightweight title, as well as Emmanuel Robles (15-0-1) for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) NABA USA super lightweight crown. Neither of Claggett’s titles will be at stake versus O’Connor.
“Many people are under the impression that I’ve been brought in as a B-side opponent for this match up, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” the non-stop Claggett explained. “We selected Danny O’Connor shortly after my last fight in October and have worked tirelessly to make it happen. I’m looking forward to facing someone who fights moving forwards. Nobody is going to try and tap dance on St. Patrick’s Day.”
Much like his last fight this past October, in which he traveled to Montreal and Ulysse, Jr. in his backyard, Montreal, Claggett is fighting in his opponent’s backyard again, only this time against a popular Irish-American in Boston on St. Patrick’s Day.
“No problem,” Claggett commented, “bring it on. I have no fear of any man! My team will sit down with my promoter, KO Night Boxing, after this fight to look at the next move. I expect that I’ll be positioned to fight for a world junior welterweight title soon enough.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity to showcase my talents, live on Super Channel, for my large, supportive fanbase in Canada. I appreciate Super Channel stepping up to allow its viewers and my fans to join us on this big night. Subscribe to Super Channel for your front row seats on St. Patrick’s Day.”
In the eight-round co-feature event, Irish junior featherweight T.J. “Power” Doheny (18-0, 13 KOs), fighting out of Australia, puts his undefeated record and status at risk as the mandatory No. 1 contender in the International Boxing Federation (IBF), against former International Boxing Organization (IBO World champion “Machine-Gun” Mike Oliver (26-7-1, 8 KOs, of Hartford.
Two of New England’s most promising, undefeated prospects, “The Silent Assassin” William Foster III (6-0, 6-0 (5 KOs) and Irvin Gonzalez, will be showcased in a pair of six-round matches.
A gifted junior lightweight fighting out of New Haven, CT, Foster takes on former WBC International bantamweight champion Nick “Kanyankole” Otieno (31-13, 13 KOs), while UBF All-American super featherweight champion Gonzalez, of Worcester, MA, meets fellow unbeaten featherweight prospect, Ugandan Sulaiman Segawa (9-0, 3 KOs), who now lives and trains in Silver Springs, Maryland.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @IntegratedPPV, @SCSportsTV, @FiteTV, @konightboxing, @DropKickMurphys, @StarBoxing, @MurphysBoxing
Follow these fighters on Twitter: @Doc_Boxing, @SDragonC
amateur boxing

USA Boxing Announces Rosters for USA vs. IRL Northeast Boxing Tour

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TICKETS ON SALE, VISIT WWW.USABOXING.ORG
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 7, 2018) — USA Boxing announced today the tentative rosters for the three-city USA vs. IRL Northeast Boxing Tour that is kicking offMarch 12 at Boston’s Royale Entertainment Complex. All three stops will showcase top USA boxers that have won numerous international medals.
Boston’s stop, which is presented by Budweiser, will feature three World Championship medalists, including 2017 Elite World Championship bronze medalist Troy Isley (Alexandra, Va.), who just earned a silver at the 2018 Strandja Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria last month, as well as 2016 Youth World Champions Delante Johnson (Cleveland, Ohio) and 2016 Youth World Championship bronze medalist Richard Torrez (Tulare, Calif.). Johnson and Torrez both represented Team USA with Isley in Bulgaria, where Johnson earned a bronze medal.
Other boxers to represent Team USA in Boston include Keyshawn Davis (Norfolk, Va.) who just earned his first international title in Bulgaria. Headlining the women is Virginia Fuchs (Kemah, Texas), who won four international gold medals in 2017 and began her 2018 with a bronze at the Strandja Tournament.
Team USA’s second dual at Springfield’s MassMutal Center on March 15 will be headlined once again Isley and Johnson, as well as their 2017 World Championship teammate Quinton Randall (Humble, Texas) will join them on this leg of the tour, along with 2017 National Champion and Continental Championship silver medalist Oshae Jones (Toledo, Ohio). Two-time World Champion Marc Castro (Fresno, Calif.) will represent Team USA for the first time at the elite level.
Amoskeag Beverages and Manchester PAL will present the third and final stop in Manchester, N.H. on March 21. Duke Ragan (Cincinnati, Ohio), 2017 World Championship silver medalist, will headline the final stop along with 2017 World Championship bronze medalist Freudis Rojas (Las Vegas, Nev.), as well as Fuchs and Torrez. Other boxers anticipated to compete include 2017 USA Boxing National Champions Jared Anderson (Toledo, Ohio) and international medalist Stacia Suttles (Bronx, N.Y.)
Team Ireland will bring a total of 18 different boxers to compete throughout the tour, and a full roster can be seen below for both teams.
For more information and to stay up-to-date on USA vs. IRL Northeast Boxing Tour, click here.
USA Boxing Roster – **All rosters are subject to change**
Boston
51 kg / 112 lbs: Virginia Fuchs, Kemah, Texas, 29
60 kg / 132 lbs: Stacia Suttles, Bronx, N.Y., 23
60 kg / 132 lbs: Keyshawn Davis, Norfolk, Va., 19
64 kg / 141 lbs: Delante Johnson, Cleveland, Ohio, 19
69 kg / 152 lbs: Oshae Jones, Toledo, Ohio, 20
69 kg / 152 lbs: Quinton Randall, Humble, Texas, 27
75 kg / 165 lbs: Troy Isley, Alexandria, Va., 19
75 kg / 165 lbs: Nikita Ababiy, Brooklyn, N.Y., 19
81 kg / 178 lbs: Khalil Coe, Jersey City, N.J., 21
91 kg / 201 lbs: Adrian Tillman, Colorado Springs, Colo., 22
91+ kg / 201+ lbs: Richard Torrez, Tulare, Calif., 18
Springfield
56 kg / 123 lbs: Marc Castro, Fresno, Calif., 18
60 kg / 132 lbs: Keyshawn Davis, Norfolk, Va., 19
64 kg / 141 lbs: Amelia Moore, Alexandria, Va., 28
64 kg / 141 lbs: Charlie Sheehy, Brisbane, Calif., 19
64 kg / 141 lbs. Delante Johnson, Cleveland, Ohio, 19
69 kg / 152 lbs: Oshae Jones, Toledo, Ohio,
69 kg / 152 lbs: Quinton Randall, Humble, Texas, 27
75 kg / 165 lbs: Nikita Ababiy, Brooklyn, N.Y., 19
75 kg / 165 lbs: Troy Isley, Alexandria, Va., 19
81 kg / 178 lbs: Khalil Coe, Jersey City, N.J., 21
91 kg / 201 lbs: Adrian Tillman, Colorado Springs, Colo., 22
Manchester
51 kg / 112 lbs: Virginia Fuchs, Katy, Texas, 29
56 kg / 123 lbs: Duke Ragan, Cincinnati, Ohio, 29
60 kg / 132 lbs: Stacia Suttles, Bronx, N.Y., 23
60 kg / 132 lbs: James Browning, Las Vegas, Nev., 18
64 kg / 132 lbs: Charlie Sheehy, Brisbane, Calif., 19
69 kg / 152 lbs: Quinton Randall, Humble, Texas, 27
69 kg / 152 lbs: Freudis Rojas Jr., Las Vegas, Nev., 19
75 kg / 165 lbs: Nikita Ababiy, Brooklyn, N.Y., 19
75 kg / 175 lbs: Naomi Graham, Colorado Springs, Colo., 28
91 kg / 201 lbs: Jared Anderson, Toledo, Ohio, 18
91+ kg/ 201+ lbs: Richard Torres, Tulare, Calif., 18
Ireland’s Boxing Roster
54 kg / : Lauren Hogan, Offaly, 21
56 kg / 123 lbs: Evan Metcalfe, Dublin, 28
60 kg / 123 lbs: George Bates, Dublin, 23
60 kg / 123 lbs.: Francis Cleary, Mayo, 19
60 kg / 123 lbs.: Kellie Harrington, Dublin, 28
64 kg / 141 lbs.: Paddy Donovan, Limerick, 19
64 kg / 141 lbs: Caoimhin Ferguson, Antrim, 21
64 kg / 141 lbs.: Wayne Kelly, Laois, 21
69 kg / 152 lbs. L Eugene McKeever, Drogheda, 21
69 kg / 152 lbs: Kieran Molloy, Galway, 21
69 kg / 152 lbs: Grain Walsh, Offaly, 22
75 kg / 165 lbs: Aoife Burke, Dublin, 20
75 kg / 165 lbs: Brett McGinty, Derry, 19
75 kg / 165 lbs: Gerard French, Antrim, 20
75 kg / 165 lbs: Michael Nevin, Laois, 19
81 kg / 178 lbs: Caoimhin Hynes, Antrim, 20
91 kg / 201 lbs: Kiril Afanasev, Dublin, 26
91+ kg / 201+ lbs: Dean Gardiner, Tipperary, 27
 
USA vs. Ireland Schedule
March 12: Royale Entertainment Complex, Boston, Mass.
March 15: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Mass.
March 21: The Manchester Downtown Hotel, Manchester, N.H.
All boxers and bouts are subject to change.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
amateur boxing, boxing

Former Irish National Team head coach Billy Walsh Now rebuilding Team USA boxing program

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2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour:
Mar. 12 Boston, Mar. 15 Springfield, Mar. 21 Manchester, NH

Billy Walsh (center) is shown here receiving his Best of 2017 Elite World Championships Award

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (February 22, 2018) – USA Boxing head coach Billy Walsh was the head coach of his native country’s amateur program in Ireland for 12 years and, ironically, those two squads will compete in three friendly duals next month on the 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Tour.
A 1988 Ireland Olympian, Walsh coached the Irish Team from 2003 to 2015, and he took over Team USA in 2015, capturing the AIBA’s World Coach of the Year the past two years.
The USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour will commence March 12 at Boston’s Royale Entertainment Complex, followed by match-ups on March 15 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass., and Manchester, NH will close out tours onMarch 21 at The Manchester Downtown Hotel. Boxing will begin at 7:00 p.m. EST in all three cities.

Tickets for any of these events may be purchased online at http://go.teamusa.org/2nX3Vjc. Each city will showcase up to 12 bouts, each to be live-streamed, free of charge, on USA Boxing’s website (www.usaboxing.org).

“At the end of the day,” the 54-year-old Walsh admitted, “it is an unusual situation for me. But I’ve been coaching here two years and Team USA is my team now. I didn’t come here for just a few years. When I eventually leave, Team USA will have developed continuity and a solid program.
“I am a true Irishman who developed through a system that won multiple titles and I was the Irish Team captain for five years. I’m helping develop strong relations between USA and Ireland that can help both programs. Ireland has been among the best of the world – amazing considering the geographical size of Ireland — with its fighters’ great hearts along with their technique and skill. There’s a lot of talent and resources in the states, but amateur boxers have been taught to develop skills more for professional boxing. Here there is a variety of different ethnic groups: Mexicans, African-American and Caucasians, too. It’s truly a melting pot and each has a unique style of boxing. We are now providing coaching education for US programs to be sustainable long term.”
Boston, of course, is known for being Irish friendly, to say the least. The Mayor of Boston, for example, is Marty Walsh. Coach Walsh has only been in Boston once, 10 years ago with his wife for a short holiday.
“I didn’t do or get to see too much,” Walsh added. “but I know that there’s a lot of Irish history in Boston. Boston is a home away from home for the Irish. I have some friends and family there. I even joke that the mayor is my cousin. I understand that there are a lot of Irish in Springfield and Manchester, as well. I’m looking forward to going to all three cities on this tour.”
Rosters for the USA and Irish teams will soon be announced.
To stay up to date on the USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour click here.

USA vs. Ireland Schedule

March 12: Royale Entertainment Complex, Boston, Mass.
March 15: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Mass.
March 21: The Manchester Downtown Hotel, Manchester, N.H.
All boxers and bouts are subject to change.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
amateur boxing

USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour Kicks-off March 12 in Boston 

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“Fightin’ Irish” boxing history
Rich in Boston
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (February 12, 2018) – “Fightin’ Irish” and Boston boxing has been synonymous for more than a century, since the Irish first started emigrating to the United States in general, Boston in particular, after the Great Potato Famine.
Many Irish and Irish-American boxers have fought in the Greater Boston area, some born and others resettling there. This rich tradition continues next month in a different way when the three-city 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour kicks-off Monday, March 12, at the newly renovated Royale Entertainment Complex in Boston’s famed theater district. The Boston stop, which is being presented by Budweiser, will have general admission tickets for $20.00 and a limited amount of $30.00 reserved tickets go on sale today (Monday, Feb. 12) at 12 p.m. ET are available to purchase online here.
The USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour will continue March 15 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass., concluding March 21 at The Manchester Downtown Hotel in New Hampshire.
All the duals will begin at 7:00 p.m. EST and tickets will be made available for purchase in the coming weeks. Each city will showcase up to 12 bouts, which will all be live streamed, free of charge, on USA Boxing’s website (www.usaboxing.org).
The tradition started back in the 19th century with “The Boston Strongboy,” John. L. Sullivan (Roxbury, MA), the first millionaire American athlete, as well as the first “gloves” world heavyweight champion and final “bare knuckles” heavyweight champion of the world. An International Boxing Hall of Famer, Sullivan won 38 of 38 pro fights, 30 coming by knockout, with only one loss and two draws.
Another Hall-of-Famer from that era, Jake Kilrain (29-5-8, 17 KOs), lived in Somerville and Quincy, both Boston suburbs.   Kilrain (1829-1899) also reigned as world heavyweight champion.
Irish boxers from Greater Boston continued this rich tradition through the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries with world champions and top contenders such as welterweight Paddy Duffy (31-3,16, 18 KOs), Lawrence welterweight Mike Glover(Cavanaugh – 30-5-5, 16 KOs), and Charlestown welterweight Mike “Twin” Sullivan(28-6-16, 17 KOs), and Newton bantamweight Jimmy Walsh (33-10-20, 14 KOs)
In the 1950’s, Woburn lightweight “Irish” Tommy Collins (61-12, 44 KOs) was dropped 10 times at the Boston Garden by world champion Jimmy Carter, until he finally succumbed in the fourth round. His gutsy performance, however, earned him an appearance on the popular Ed Sullivan Show.
Arlington heavyweight Tom McNeeley (37-14, 28 KOs), unsuccessfully fought for the world title in 1961, stopped in the fourth round of his Toronto fight versus defending champion Floyd Patterson, and McNeeley’s son, Boston-native and later Medfield resident Peter “Hurricane” McNeeley (47-7, 30 KOs) famously was stopped in the opening round by “Iron” Mike Tyson in the latter’s first fight after his release from prison.
In the 1980’s, Irish boxers made their way to Boston to fight; some returned home after their careers, others relocated in the area. In 1984, Ireland-native Sean Mannion (42-14, 13 KOs), who had moved to the Dorchester section of Boston, lost a 15-round decision in Madison Square Garden to Mike McCallum for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Middleweight World Championship.
 
Steve “Celtic Warrior” Collins (25-2-1, 18 KOs) moved to Everett, later to Brockton, to work with Goody and Pat Petronelli, who handled Marvelous Marvin Hagler throughout is Hall of Fame career. Collins captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight and super middleweight world titles before moving back to Ireland.
Collins’ younger brother, Packie Collins, also moved to Brockton to fight. He later worked with Irish heavyweight champion Kevin “The Clones Colossus” McBride (35-10-1, 29 KOs), who went on to knock Tyson out and into retirement. McBride, who still lives in Dorchester, was a stablemate of former Team Ireland head coach and current Team USA head coach, Billy Walsh, at the European Games. Both were also Ireland Olympians, respectively, in 1988 and 1992.
Another Ireland Olympian, Wayne “Pocket Rocket” McCullough (27-7, 18 KOs), moved to Las Vegas from Northern Ireland. The luck of the Irish wasn’t with him in Boston in 1997, when he lost his World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight title at Hynes Convention Center, by way of a 12-round split decision to Daniel Zaragoza.
Arguably the most famous and popular Irish-American boxer, outside of Sullivan and Jack Dempsey, is Lowell junior welterweight “Irish” Micky Ward (38-13, 27 KOs), who was involved in three Fight of the Year award winners, two from his epic trilogy with Arturo Gatti, and the first boxer with more than 10 career losses to earn a $1-million purse. Ward’s life was portrayed by another Boston icon, actor Mark Wahlberg, in the award-winning movie, “The Fighter.”
Irish boxers are still coming to Boston to fight. Locally-based Murphys Boxing has promoted numerous shows in Boston featuring world-class boxers such as Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan and undefeated super bantamweight TJ “Power” Doheny (18-0, 13 KOs), as well as undefeated rising stars such as “Sting” Ray Mayotte and New England & Massachusetts heavyweight champion Niall Kennedy (10-0, 6 KOs).
The Irish team will announce its boxers later this month after the conclusion of its National Championships.
Headlining Team USA’s roster is 2017 World Championship bronze medalist Troy Isley(Alexandria, VA). USA Boxing’s team will also include Virginia Fuchs (Kemah, Texas), who won four international gold medals in 2017, 2016 Youth World Champion and 2017 Elite Continental Championships silver medalist, Delante Johnson (Cleveland, OH), 2017 USA Boxing Heavyweight National Champion Jared Anderson (Toledo, OH) and 2016 Youth World Championship bronze medalist and 2017 USA Boxing Super Heavyweight National Champion, Richard Torrez (Tulare, CA). A full roster for each city will be released closer to the start of the tour.
USA vs. Ireland Schedule
March 12: Royale Entertainment Complex, Boston, Mass.
March 15: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Mass.
March 21: The Manchester Downtown Hotel, Manchester, N.H.
All boxers and bouts are subject to change.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
amateur boxing

USA Boxing Announces USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour

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Top amateur boxers to compete in three cities throughout March
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (January 29, 2018) — USA Boxing announced today the three cities that will host the 2018 USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour.
Boston, Manchester (NH) and Springfield (MA) will welcome two of the world’s top amateur boxing teams for friendly duals. Each city will showcase up to 12 bouts, that will all be live streamed, free of charge, on USA Boxing’s website.
The tour will kick off March 12 at Boston’s Royale Entertainment Complex, followed by matchups on March 15 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass. Manchester will close out the duals on March 21 at The Manchester Downtown Hotel. Boxing will begin at 7:00 p.m. EST in all three cities, and tickets will be made available for purchase in the coming weeks.
The American delegation will be led by Head Coach Billy Walsh (Colorado Springs, CO), who represented Ireland at the 1988 Olympics before becoming the head of the Irish boxing program for over 10 years.
Headlining Team USA’s roster will be 2017 World Championship bronze medalist Troy Isley (Alexandria, VA). USA Boxing’s team will also include a number of up-and-comers such as 2016 Youth World Champion Marc Castro (Fresno, CA), who is making his highly anticipated international elite debut this year.
Other American’s include 2016 Youth World Champion and 2017 Elite Continental Championships silver medalist, Delante Johnson (Cleveland, OH), 2017 USA Boxing Heavyweight National Champion Jared Anderson (Toledo, OH) and 2016 Youth World Championship bronze medalist and 2017 USA Boxing Super Heavyweight National Champion, Richard Torrez (Tulare, CA). A full roster for each city will be released closer to the start of the tour.
The Irish team, which will be under the guidance of former world champion and head coach Bernard Dunne, will announce their boxers at the conclusion of its National Championships in February.
USA vs. Ireland Schedule
March 12: Royale Entertainment Complex, Boston, Mass.
March 15: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Mass.
March 21: The Manchester Downtown Hotel, Manchester, N.H.
All boxers and bouts are subject to change.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @USABoxing
Instagram: @USABoxing
Facebook: /USABoxing
mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT SLUGFEST SCHEDULED FOR NEF BOXING RING

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Lewiston, Maine (August 12, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Lewiston on September 10, 2016 with the fight promotion’s next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS.”  The fight card will feature both mixed-martial-arts and professional boxing bouts.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the first pro boxing bout signed for the event.  Brandon Montella (4-0, 3 KOs) will take on Tollison Lewis (2-1, 1 KO) in a four-round light-heavyweight contest.

 

Montella graduated from Carrabec High School in North Anson, Maine in 1998.  Soon after, Montella joined the United States Marine Corps (USMC).  He served in the marines until 2003 when he received an honorable discharge.  After spending the better part of a decade in Virginia, Montella moved with his wife to the Boston, Massachusetts area in 2011.  He owns and operates The Way, LLC boxing gym in Woburn, Massachusetts.  Montella has been on a tear in the boxing ring of late, scoring three knockouts in an eight-month period.

 

Tollison Lewis cut his teeth in the NEF MMA cage.  He has found more success, however, in the boxing ring.  Lewis took a fight on one day’s notice against veteran John Webster (8-7-1, 6 KOs) in the fall of 2014.  He would dominate that fight and win by decision.  Lewis followed up that performance with a stoppage of Zenon Herrera (0-2) last year, earning himself a crack at Brandon Berry’s (11-2-1, 7 KOs) Northeast Junior Welterweight Title earlier in 2016.  Lewis predicts nothing short of an all-out slugfest with Montella on September 10.

 

“I’m expecting a battle,” said Lewis.  “I know I’ll be prepared for one. Expect a war! I’m not going to talk about it – I’m going to show it, and losing isn’t an option.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at207.783.2009 x 525.

 

For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

boxing

DOMINICAN KO ARTIST GUZMAN READY FOR FIRST WORLD TITLE SHOT

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IBF #2 super bantamweight contender Jonathan “Salomon King” Guzman (21-0, 21 KOs) is hard at work preparing for the “fight of his life” with trainer Hector Bermudez at Peter Welch’s Gym in Boston.
The 26-year-old KO artist from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will face IBF #1 contender Shingo Wake (20-4-2, 12 KOs) on Wednesday, July 20, at EDION Arena Osaka in Osaka, Japan, for the vacant IBF World super bantamweight title.
Guzman, who stopped Mexico’s tough Daniel Rosas in eighth round on April 29 to earn this fight, says his dreams are so close to coming true he can almost taste them. “I have waited my whole life for a world title fight and now it’s almost here,” said Guzman. “I can’t wait to get in the ring and win for my family and my country.”
Trainer Bermudez says Guzman has too many weapons to fall short in this fight. “Although Jonathan has never had to go the distance because his power is amazing, he can also box very well. He’s just never had to thus far in his career. Jonathan is the complete package and soon the world will be learning all about him. There is no way that Wake can beat him.”