Boxing: Dunne ready to rock
Hunter's in sights of rising star Bernard
By David Kelly
[email protected]
28 January 2006
BERNARD Dunne believes 2006 is the year he will make a major impact on the boxing world.
European super-bantamweight champion Michael Hunter is in Dunne's long term sights and tonight's Noel Wilders should not stand in his way.
Though, Dunne is right to suggest that as a former European and IBO bantamweight champion Wilders is his most serious threat to date.
Wilders seemed to have lost his love for the sport last year when pulling out of their proposed clash in September but now he is adamant the desire is back.
Dunne is confident that he can push him back into retirement and subsequently take another step towards facing Hunter.
"This year Hunter is the fight we are after. It would be a fantastic fight and I'm prepared to travel if that's what has to happen for me to get the fight," said Dunne, whose manager Brian Peters has already had negotiations with Hunter's management.
Peters, who stages tonight's sell-out show in Dublin's National Stadium, is confident that the clash can be made though the timing seems to be a little up in the air.
"I have spoken Hunter's camp and they seem very keen to do the fight but I know that he has a voluntary and a mandatory to take care of before Bernard can get in there but then by that time Bernard will be ready so that suits us," said Peters.
"It would be great to do the fight in the summer but we may have to wait until September time but you never know.
"I just want to make sure that Bernard stays busy and we get to the point where Hunter has to face him."
Wilders has warned Dunne that he is moving up from "middle class to upper class" this evening but the unbeaten Dubliner should come out on top.
A late stoppage would not be a surprise though Wilders may still have the craft to take him the distance.
Dunne added: "I would say this is a step up in class for me but not a big jump up in class, it's more gradual and that's the way to go about things and a win over Wilders will have me knocking on Hunter's door.
"That's the fight I want this year, I want to be European champion by the end of the year and Wilders will be a good name on my record."
The fight of the night may well come when former British and WBU super-featherweight champion Michael Gomez clashes with Peter McDonagh for the Irish lightweight title.
Gomez is bidding to revive his career once more following last February's WBU title defeat at the hands of Javier Alvarez and is relishing the chance for a first fight on Irish soil.
"I'm really looking forward to fighting in Dublin and I would love to keep fighting there because the show is sold out and I had trouble getting tickets myself," said Gomez.
McDonagh believes that mind bending Uri Geller can help him cause an upset but Dublin-born Gomez should be too strong and a stoppage inside the 10 rounds is likely.
Brian Magee will warm up for his British and Commonwealth super-middleweight title fight with Carl Froch on March 31 at the King's Hall with an eight-rounder against Belarusian Daniil Prakapsou.
Coach Harry Hawkins said: "It's an ideal fight for Brian and we are hoping that he gets in some rounds ahead of the Froch fight."
Lurgan light-welterweight Stephen Haughian has a four-rounder against London's Duncan Cottier.
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Dunne ready to rock...
Certainly does , I can't imagine it not being a great fight . Dunne may only have moderate power (it's better than Pickering's though) but the way he finished Sean Hughes after he stunned him was chilling .Razor wrote:This sounds like a great rivalary? Hunter and Dunne. cant wait for this to happen, has the makings of fight of the year.
It would be great to get a Dunne , Hunter and Pickering rivalry going on , like Barrera , Morales and Pacquiao .
Other than the 3 title holders + Oscar Larios , the Super Bantamweight division is pretty weak , and the 3 of those guys could really shake things up .
I feel Dunne is the best of them and for any British fight fans that haven't seen Dunne before but are getting to see him tonight , you're in for a treat .