by James Slater: Irish man Bernard Dunne, last seen being stopped in less than a single round by big punching Spaniard Kiko Martinez, makes his return to the ring on April 12th. The 28 year old Dunne will face 35 year old veteran, Felix Machado of Venezuela, and the action takes place at The International Events Centre in Castlebar, Ireland..
Super-bantamweight Dunne, whose world was blown to pieces by Martinez in under 90 seconds last August, is not exactly coming back against a creampuff – not by any stretch. Machado may be getting on in years for a lower weight class fighter, but he is both a former world champion and a southpaw. Not only that, but the fighter known as “El Macho” has a good record of 25-7-1(12) and of his seven losses only one has come by stoppage – this single TKO loss having occurred way back in the former IBF super-flyweight champ’s pro debut in 1993. Clearly then, Dunne is in for a potentially tough ring return against the man who became a world champion by defeating Nicaragua’s Julio Gamboa in July 2000.
Machado, who also unsuccessfully challenged for the WBA bantamweight title (against Thai boxer Daorung Chuvatana in 1997, losing by slit decision) is without a doubt the most experienced, perhaps most formidable fighter Dunne will ever have faced in his 25 bout career. Coming back against Machado, even though the Venezuelan has lost his last two fights, may be a somewhat risky idea. Especially when Dunne will be in need of a confidence boost after what happened to him the last time he boxed. It should not be forgotten or overlooked that Machado was still contesting world titles as recently as December 2003. Nor has the southpaw ever suffered as devastating a loss as the Irishman did when losing his European championship.
Team Dunne will surely be counting on Machado being shop-worn and therefore no longer as formidable as he once was. That can be the only reason they have taken the fight. Still, Bernard Dunne deserves credit for signing to box someone as respectable as the 35 year old in his first ever comeback bout. If, however, the Irishman discovers that Machado is not as over the hill as he more than likely thinks he is, he could be in trouble.
As other promising fighters have found out to their cost in the sport of boxing, two straight defeats can be heartbreaking. All of Ireland will be hoping this is not the case with Bernard Dunne come April 12th.