Over three years have passed since Bernard Dunne lost his European Super Bantamweight title in such dramatic fashion to Kiko “La Sensacion” Martinez but the belt will once again be up for grabs in Dublin his weekend when the Spanish KO artist returns to contest the belt with French based Armenian Arsen Martyrosian as part of a European title double header at The National Stadium this Saturday on the Hunky Dorys Fight Night..
One Dubliner taking a keener interest than most in the proceedings will be Paul Hyland, the reigning European Union and Irish Champion and the man seen by many Irish fight fans as the natural successor to Dunne at Super Bantamweight. Hyland will have his own battle to contend with on Saturday as he takes on American veteran, Robert DaLuz over 8 scheduled rounds on the undercard but the 25-year-old from Tallaght would clearly relish a shot at the winner of Martinez – Martyrosian.
That’s going to be a good, competitive fight but I won’t be paying too much attention to it on Saturday because I’m just focused on my own fight,” said Hyland. “I don’t really mind who wins but I suppose I would lean towards Kiko because at the press conference for the show last month he shook my hand and promised me a shot if he won and it would nice to gain revenge for Ireland by taking the European title back off him. I met Bernard recently as well and had a chat with him about it and I know he’ll be there on the night working for RTÉ.
“Obviously everybody knows that Kiko is a good puncher so of course you need to be very careful for the first few rounds but I think he runs out of ideas after three or four rounds. He just keeps trying the left hook and right hands over and over again but without the same effect. I’d be very confident of beating him if that fight comes off but we both have to get this weekend out of the way first.”
Hyland is keen to ensure that he doesn’t get side tracked by talk of European titles and maintain’s his focus on beating DaLuz on Saturday. “I’ve watched a little bit of him and and he’s like Kiko in as much that he normally comes flying out of the traps for the first few rounds. He’s a guy that will come to win and he fights with a typical American style but I’ve experience of that from the fights I’ve had in the U.S. so it won’t phase me. He’s a good opponent and he’s hardly ever been stopped so I’ll be prepared to go the distance and if the stoppage comes, it comes. Boxing in the ring at the National Stadium is like boxing in the living room at home for me, it’s so familiar to me and I can’t see anyone giving me any problems in there.”
Another man who Hyland insists is unlikely to cause him any problems is Limerick’s Prizefighter Champion, Willie “Big Bang” Casey. The undefeated southpaw is another man eyeing a shot of the winner of Martinez – Martyrosian but Hyland sees no reason for civil war to break out just yet. “That’s all just newspaper talk as far as I’m concerned and I’m only interested in going forwards and not backwards in my career. At the moment fighting Willie would be a backward step for me and he doesn’t have anything I need so unless that changes I don’t see that fight happening.”
Hyland believes that a European title victory could put him on the fast track to a World title shot in 2011. “All going well at the weekend I’m hoping to fight again in November, stay busy and get that European title shot. There are a lot of things happening at Super Bantamweight right now on the European scene and then you have the likes of Jason Booth and Rendall Munroe fighting for World titles over the next couple of months so who knows what could open up after that but for now it’s all about doing the business on Saturday and taking it one step at a time.”
The main event on Saturday will see Brian Magee make the first defence of his European Super Middleweight title against Roman Aramian with the Lisburn southpaw just one fight from a World title shot having recently been installed as the WBA’s number 1 challenger at Super Middleweight.
A third title bout on the card will see Dubliner’s Anthony Fitzgerald and Robbie Long square off as they look to complete a trilogy that has already thrilled Irish fight fans with both men having one win a piece. This time around, Fitzgerald’s Irish Super Middleweight title will be on the line.
There will be further Dublin interest on the card with Castleknock’s Gavin Prunty and Brendan Fitzpatrick from Finglas also in action alongside reigning Irish Heavyweight champ, Coleman Barrett from Galway.
The 9 fight card also features undefeated Cork based Cuban’s Alexei Acosta and Luis Garcia although their compatriot, heavyweight Mike Perez has been forced off the card through illness.
Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night priced €40, €75 and €100 are available from Ticketmaster.ie / 0818 719300 or the National Stadium on 087 2511772, the Ticket Office on 086 8120135 or the boxers on the bill.
Magee ready to show why he’s Number 1
Having conquered Europe by winning the European Super Middleweight title Brian Magee is edging ever closer towards a World title shot but one final hurdle remains at the National Stadium in Dublin on September 11th when he defends his European title against Roman Aramian in the main event on the Hunky Dorys Fight Night.
Magee’s sensational away triumph over Mads Larsen in Denmark to win the title has seen him recently installed as the WBA’s number one contender at Super Middleweight ensuring that Aramian should prove the final obstacle ahead of a World title tilt.
Magee says that his rise to the top of the WBA’s list of contenders has handed him a major boost ahead of next months title defence. “My frame of mind could not be any better having heard that news,” revealed the 35-year-old. “This adds even extra importance to this European title defence against Aramian. What I have to do is concentrate on the 11th of September and not look beyond this date. I’m well aware of other boxers who were in similar circumstances and then came a cropper because they looked too far ahead. I won’t allow this to happen because I know that a successful defence of my title will guarantee me a World title fight next time up. If there are any worries on this score I am leaving them to my management, Pat Magee and John Rooney.”
While Magee is happy to leave the outside the ring business to others he’s fully confident of delivering between the ropes in Dublin. “If the sparring I have had is any indication of my form and condition then my fans are going to see something special again,” said the champion. “I believe I can be even better than I was against Larsen. I feel that with Bernardo Checa’s coaching I am still learning and improving and I will demonstrate that on the night.
“My training camp for this fight has gone extremely well,” continued Magee. “In fact I would say it’s probably the best preparation I have had for any fight. I think one of the reasons for this is the long rest I’ve had since the Larsen fight in January. The training schedule for that fight was particularly long with it coming over the Christmas period and there were interruption’s due to the very cold weather but everything has run smoothly for this.”
Magee’s manager, Pat Magee says that his fighter’s preparations have taken on an extra edge since he was installed at the top of the WBA ratings. “The news that Brian is now the WBA number one has given a tremendous boost to his whole approach,” said Magee. “I have never seen him so happy in himself and the atmosphere in the camp is tremendous.
“He is so anxious to get on with it that there have been times when he has had to be reigned in by John Rooney, Bernardo Checa and Alex Docherty from doing too much in the gym. There is always the danger of a fighter going over the top but his team know what they are doing and I am sure it will all add up to a performance from Brian which will demonstrate that he is indeed ready for that World title shot and when the time comes, and that will be sooner rather than later.”
Magee believes that his charge can secure an impressive win against Aramian and ultimately go on to secure a clash with the winner of the ongoing Super Six tournament. “We are confident that Brian will win and do his country proud.
“We will be keeping a close eye on is the next round of the Super Six which culminates on October 2nd. At that stage two contenders will leave the stage. If they happen to be either Mikkel Kessler or Arthur Abraham then we could be looking forward to a mega fight with either of these two next year. Then of course the Super Six will conclude next September and if Brian continues to keep winning then I’m sure Brian can look forward to meeting the winner of the Super Six and wouldn’t that be something to look forward to.
“Incidentally an added bonus for Brian is that he has been invited to attend the Mikkel Kessler – Allan Green Super Six fight in Denmark in September. I know that the Danes want to see more of Brian in action but for the time being we will be trying to keep him at home.”
A second European title clash on next month’s Hunky Dorys Fight Night will see Kiko “La Sensación” Martinez returning to Dublin as he bids to recapture the European Super Bantamweight crown against Arsen Martirosyan.
Aside from the European title double header next months National Stadium card in Dublin also features the eagerly awaited rubber match between Anthony Fitzgerald and Robbie Long, a local derby that will see Fitzgerald’s Irish Super Middleweight title up for grabs. There will be further Dublin interest as reigning EU and Irish Super Bantamweight Champion Paul Hyland looks to press his claims for a shot at the winner of the Kiko Martinez – Arsen Martirosyan fight while Dubliners, Gavin Prunty and Brendan Fitzpatrick will also be in action alongside the undefeated Cork based Cuban trio of Alexei Acosta, Luis Garcia and Mike Perez.
Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night priced €40, €75 and €100 are available from Ticketmaster.ie / 0818 719300 or the National Stadium on 087 2511772, the Ticket Office on 086 8120135 or the boxers on the bill.
Armenian’s seeking revenge in the Boxing ring
Following Ireland’s 1-0 victory over Armenia last Friday in their European Championship qualifier Armenian’s Roman Aramian and Arsen Martyrosian will be looking to restore national pride in Dublin this weekend as they bid for European title success in the boxing ring when they face Brian Magee and Kiko Martinez in a European title double header on this Saturday’s Hunky Dorys Fight Night at the National Stadium.
The German based Aramian challenges Belfast southpaw Brian Magee for his European Super Middleweight crown while Martyrosian, who fights out of France will contest the vacant European Super Bantamweight title against Kiko Martinez – a man who needs no introduction to Irish fight fans following his infamous KO win over Bernard Dunne in 2007.
Aramian is confident that he can spring a similar result on Saturday by ending the European title reign of another Irishman inside the distance. “I am coming to Ireland to win and to become the European Champion,” declared Aramian. “I’m sure if will be the same for Arsen. I watched the match last Friday and it was disappointing for us but the Irish team proved that they can win in Armenia so now it is up to myself and Arsen to prove that we can win in Ireland.
“I am prepared for a war and I believe it will be an exciting fight for the fans. Two thirds of my 30 wins have come by knockout and I know that I have the power to score another knockout in Dublin.”
Aramian watched Magee lift the European title in Denmark earlier this year with an impressive stoppage win over local man Mads Larsen but he is adamant that Magee will find things an awful lot tougher in his first defence. “I watched Magee win the title against Larsen and I was very disappointed with Larsen’s performance because mentally he seemed to give up as early as the third round,” said Aramian. “I think he looked at Magee’s record and he underestimated him expecting an easy victory and maybe Magee will make the same mistake against me but I can guarantee that I will not hide or run away like Larsen did.
“I have a lot of respect for Brian because his European title success has been an inspiration to me. It shows that even after you have had setbacks it’s possible to come back and win at the highest level and that’s exactly what I plan to do on Saturday night.”
A third title bout on the Hunky Dorys Fight Night will see Dubliner’s Anthony Fitzgerald and Robbie Long square off as they look to complete a trilogy that has already thrilled Irish fight fans with both men having a win a piece. This time around, Fitzgerald’s Irish Super Middleweight title will be on the line.
The 9 fight card also features undefeated Cork based Cuban’s Alexei Acosta and Luis Garcia with heavyweight Mike Perez having been forced off the card through illness. Reigning EU and Irish Super Bantamweight Champion Paul Hyland will also be in action as looks to press his claims for a shot at the winner of the Martinez – Martirosyan fight while Hyland’s fellow Dubliner’s Gavin Prunty and Brendan Fitzpatrick will also be in action alongside reigning Irish Heavyweight champ, Coleman Barrett from Galway.
Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night priced €40, €75 and €100 are available from Ticketmaster.ie / 0818 719300 or the National Stadium on 087 2511772, the Ticket Office on 086 8120135 or the boxers on the bill.