In a battle of cousins, unbeaten Patrick Hyland steps up against Paul Griffin for the vacant Irish featherweight title over 10 rounds in Dublin on Saturday (April 19).
The local men, related through their grandmothers, have been linked (in the ring) for some time, even though Griffin lives in Australia these days and is pushing 37. Southpaw Griffin has fought sporadically in recent years - his last fight came 11 months ago in Sydney - but at 24-3, he holds a big edge in experience over the 10-0 Hyland, one of three fighting brothers and rated an exciting prospect at 24. Hyland comes off a first-round hammering of Oklahoma's Mike Dobbs in the States last month - four of his last five wins have come in the first, in fact, although he's beaten nobody of note.
Aside from whether this should be allowed or not, much depends on how well Hyland makes the step up. Griffin, European amateur champion in 1991, licked Peter Buckey NINE years before Hyland and has lost only to Dean Pithie, Jackson Asiku and Buster Dennis in 13 years as a pro. He's been there, got the T-shirt.
Nevertheless, I have a feeling, the hungrier, busier Hyland can work his way to the points in one of those passing of the torch nights and, in a way, quite a sad one.
Cousins get down to it
Cousins get down to it
Last edited by bennie on 16 Apr 2008, 10:50, edited 3 times in total.
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Twinkle Toes
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