BoxRec

With many people rating different Irish boxers at the minute for a world title, it looks like Ireland is sure to get a World Champion over the next 12 - 24 mnths.

Manny Stewart is backing Andy Lee and has his followers, now we are hearing that Barney Eastwood and John Breen are backing Paul McCloskey. Then there has been all the talk about the new Heavyweight Mike Perez. To top it all off we also have Mr John Duddy who seems to have taken a back seat this past few weeks/months, press wise.

I think it is safe to say that Ireland will have another World champion within this timescale, but who??

Who has the ability, flair and that little something special, the trainers and promoters have their opinions but what do the boxing fans think? Who CAN do it, who WILL do it, or will they all fall short on the world stage?

what about martin lindsey he is a classy feather unbeatan who can fight and is on the fringe of fighting for the british title

1southpaw wrote:what about martin lindsey he is a classy feather unbeatan who can fight and is on the fringe of fighting for the british title

Very true 1southpaw thats one I forgot about. To be honest I was reading an article that mentioned all the others and it prompted me to write the Org post.

Andy Lee will be ready in 12-18 months.... lots of questions to be answered, but he could not just be a belt holder but a very good (unified) champion.

McCloskey - looks the part, impressive win to beat Garnacia. Best win out of all the Irish fighters.

What about this James Moore? Is he any good?

There are some good Irish prospects, no doubt about that. I like the look of Lee, although I think Steward is (true to form) going a little overboard about him.

What's happened to Andrew Murray? I remember Boxrec's own James McDonnell raving about him a few years ago, but I don't think I've heard anything since. Is he still fighting?

Also, isn't it a bit of a stretch to claim 'Mike Perez' as Irish? And I say this as an English rugby fan who was screaming "give it to Vainakolo" just a few Saturdays ago......

states wrote:There are some good Irish prospects, no doubt about that. I like the look of Lee, although I think Steward is (true to form) going a little overboard about him.

What's happened to Andrew Murray? I remember Boxrec's own James McDonnell raving about him a few years ago, but I don't think I've heard anything since. Is he still fighting?

Also, isn't it a bit of a stretch to claim 'Mike Perez' as Irish? And I say this as an English rugby fan who was screaming "give it to Vainakolo" just a few Saturdays ago......

You cant claim Perez as Irish - thats just crazy. He is a Cuban exile living and fighting in Ireland, nothing more.

Murray is scheduled for an Irish title rematch with James Gorman after their previous fight was won by Murray after a stoppage due to cuts. Think that is in Dublin some time in March. I am hoping it will get screened by RTE - really want to get a look at Murray to see what he is all about.

Andy Lee looks good, just have to see how his chin holds up when hit by a better class of boxer than he's faced so far, but on the evidence i've seen he should be able to get to title contention.

America looks attractive to alot of the Irish lads, Paul Hyland, Patrick Hyland and Billy Walsh all have fights lined up over there.

Looks like McCloskeys making the right moves to become a WC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7257312.stm

McCloskey headlines in Letterkenny on March 29th against Cesar Bazan. Still debating whether to go or not

Well you can count out John Duddy once they make the April fight with Pavlik - looks like he's being thrown to the wolves, but he'll put up a good fight, and get a good payday as well I hope.
Better cash in than risk losing that high rating in a non title fight.

Hard to tell with Andy Lee, no one believes anything Manny says any more So far so good though, and he looks Ireland's best bet, for the moment.

Is Bernard Dunne a write off then??

And does John O’Donnell count, or is he not really Irish? Thought I read somewhere he was....

I thought he looked a great prospect, before that shocker in the USA - he seems to have near retired after that - anyone heard if there's a comeback due?

Paul McCloskey looked a real talent on his last showing.

Duddy will not be a wotld champion. He's not good enough.

However, Andy Lee looks really promising. However, so did Duddy until he fought Camps.

MightyWarrior wrote: And does John O’Donnell count, or is he not really Irish? Thought I read somewhere he was....

I thought he looked a great prospect, before that shocker in the USA - he seems to have near retired after that - anyone heard if there's a comeback due?

O'Donnell looked ace besting Stuart Elwell but he must have really taken that stateside disaster hard - he hasnt boxed since.

Still young with bundles of talent. I hope we see him back soon. Maybe on the undercard of Froch's March fight? I havn't heard anything on the topic to be honest.

He was born in the UK but I believe he and his family are from Galway in Ireland if my memory serves me..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Vinta ... _for_Pound

Thats how I line them up!

Duddy - to the "he's not good enough to be a world champion" morons - you'll soon eat your word - maybe not against Kelly this summer but soon - I think he should start switching focus to the "German's" Sylvester, Assikeen (Fin), Sturm and Abraham - Duddy is better then people credit him its just he gets a lot of haters because of his dissptoportionately large following.

Lee - should have got a medal at the Olympics but apart from that had a great amateur record - he is more hyped than the Oscars but so far has delivered - his fight against Vera should be a good litmus test - but I did hear it was off due to a cut not repairing as quickly as he thought - Manny has him built up to much already but he does deserve it - I blame the youtube clip of Carl Daniels which everyone has seen and it was very imressive

McCloskey - making a lot of noise over the last twelve months and has a great style - I didnt give him much credit until the Bustos KO and he has continued to do the business - again the Bazan fight will be another litmus test.

Dunne - caught chin up, cold and bang to rights - Kiko exposed him and showed what a lot of boxing fans in Ireland knew was coming. He is due to fight again next month so its a slow rebuilding process for him now.

Macklin - over shadowed by Lee and Duddy in Ireland and by Hatton in his own gym. However, his change of trainer should give him a new lease of life. Lee and Duddy are going to have to fight him at some stage and they will be cracking fights

Fagan - came to boxing really late and has no amateur experience to speak of and works a full time job as a teacher. However, he has a great reputation in the US, they love his brawling raw style and his split decision losses to Spadafora and Kimbrough have been interesting talking points

Ones to watch

James Moore - surprisingly unhyped as he was Ireland premier amateur and he's got a flawless record

Murray and Haughian - good prospect and moving in the right direction

Coyle - got on six fights and that including a R1 KO lose - however this former military world champion is a cracking wee fighter and I expect decent things from him

Alo Kelly - gutted to hear he had to retire this month due to a detached retina - I considered him one of Ireland's hottest prospects

I tell you what sligoboy, if you think Vera and Bazan are going to constitute litmus tests then you cant feel very confident in how far Lee and McCloskey might go!

Lee and Macklin are going places, IMO.

TerribleTerry wrote:I tell you what sligoboy, if you think Vera and Bazan are going to constitute litmus tests then you cant feel very confident in how far Lee and McCloskey might go!

I dont take your point Terry. I see both fights as a significant step up from the opposition that they have both fought thus far.

sligobhoy67 wrote:

TerribleTerry wrote:I tell you what sligoboy, if you think Vera and Bazan are going to constitute litmus tests then you cant feel very confident in how far Lee and McCloskey might go!

I dont take your point Terry. I see both fights as a significant step up from the opposition that they have both fought thus far.

My point is that if you think Bazan has enough left, and Vera had enough in the first place, to test these pair then you are setting the bar pretty low.

Both should win these fights with relatively easily - they dont constitute significant tests of their abilities IMO.

TerribleTerry wrote:

sligobhoy67 wrote:

TerribleTerry wrote:I tell you what sligoboy, if you think Vera and Bazan are going to constitute litmus tests then you cant feel very confident in how far Lee and McCloskey might go!

I dont take your point Terry. I see both fights as a significant step up from the opposition that they have both fought thus far.

My point is that if you think Bazan has enough left, and Vera had enough in the first place, to test these pair then you are setting the bar pretty low.

Both should win these fights with relatively easily - they dont constitute significant tests of their abilities IMO.

I think we will have to agree to disagree then - both a not a massive step up but are a significant step up and if they pass this "litmus test" then it opens the gateway to moving up to another level.

Did Andy Lee ever fight Duddy in the am's??? If they did what was the outcome???

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer

What about Scott Belshaw? A young heavyweight with power in a piss poor division.

Everton FC wrote:Did Andy Lee ever fight Duddy in the am's??? If they did what was the outcome???

Not that I know of, Duddy fought at 71kg and Lee at 75kg

Cannibal wrote:http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?hu ... &cat=boxer

What about Scott Belshaw? A young heavyweight with power in a piss poor division.

he posts on here.... Scotty is a work in progress at this point, not long recovered from an injury. Nice bloke, hooks well, forgets to jab.

Someone once said that Belshaw + Greenberg would make a complete Heavyweight.

According to Boxing News, Belshaw isn't hot or even a prospect.

As for McCloskey i like his loose, languid style but we shall see when the opposition get tougher. Tontchev was shot to bits and Garnica was tough but past his best plus Tim Bradley knocked him down three times and battered him about just a few fights earlier. Not to take away from Paul's exemplary performance mind you.

When you hear the term "former world champion" you get excited but how much a careful manipulation of words can deceive us! Cesar Bazan has little left and it's a decent test but not maybe we could have seen better in there.

TerribleTerry wrote:

MightyWarrior wrote: And does John O’Donnell count, or is he not really Irish? Thought I read somewhere he was....

I thought he looked a great prospect, before that shocker in the USA - he seems to have near retired after that - anyone heard if there's a comeback due?

O'Donnell looked ace besting Stuart Elwell but he must have really taken that stateside disaster hard - he hasnt boxed since.

Still young with bundles of talent. I hope we see him back soon. Maybe on the undercard of Froch's March fight? I havn't heard anything on the topic to be honest.

He was born in the UK but I believe he and his family are from Galway in Ireland if my memory serves me..

Dunno if you lads saw John's fight last May (was it on the SKY broadcast?) Bit it was a bad fight for John. It was the first time I saw him and wasn't impressed. He looked nervous and was schooled badly. If memory serves, it was a bad KO.

I think McCloskey is very underdated. Boxing News don't even have him in the top ten in Britain so given that I've been impressed with the level of competition he's been in with recently. I think if some of the other up and coming light welters were in with the likes of Garnica and Bazan they'd be getting the big build up.

His hands down style will probably catch up with him at some point but even still I'd favour him over Lynes.