Richard Kennedy

BOXING: McKenna to fight on Taylor Croke Park card

Andytown favourite Tyrone McKenna is due to fight on the much anticipated Katie Taylor card in Croke Park on September 5th. Talking at the undercard press conference on Tuesday McKenna had the audience briefly stunned as he admitted that it ‘had never been his dream to fight in Croke Park’ but smartly ‘because it was simply beyond the realms of possibility’. McKenna was full of praise for Katie Taylor stating she was ‘the only person who could see out Croke Park’ and he was delighted to be part of an historical night for Ireland. Three or four fights have fallen through for the West Belfast man this year already and with zero expectations on being asked to fight on this card felt like ‘Christmas come early’.

BOXING: The Hammer stops swinging

Pody McCrory took to the ring for the last time on Friday night. Haunted by his performance in his last fight he decided that he wanted one last dance. Every great fighter has a burning desire to end their career on their own terms and to do it on a high in his home city was too tempting to remain in a premature retirement.

BOXING: Agyarko secures world title shot

Belfast’s Caomhin Agyarko has secured a world title shot against current IBF light-middleweight champion, Josh Kelly. The Englishman has held the strap since January of this year coming through a tight contest and getting the majority decision over Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev in his hometown of Newcastle. This will be his first defence of that title and he faces a tough test in Belfast’s Black Thunder.

BOXING: Crocker leaves Australia empty handed

Lewis Crocker travelled to Brisbane as the IBF Welterweight World Champion to face challenger Liam Paro. The Australian and Queensland native looked comfortable in front of the home crowd and despite being the challenger would have probably felt like the favourite. This was constantly reiterated during fight week by Crocker who either genuinely thrives off the underdog mentality or was attempting to instill complacency in his opponent.

BOXING: Detroit ready for the Battle in Belfast

It’s been a busy week for the Bridges Beyond Boxing team. A squad of 12 Irish youngsters have just returned home after two amateur fighting events in Buffalo and Boston. This morning, eight boxers from Detroit have touched down in Ireland for a ten day trip between Belfast and Donegal. Preparations are already underway for events in Cinninati and Louisville later this year. The charity organisation founded by former Irish champion Joe Lowe alongside Alan Martin and Ciaran Quinn continues to go from strength to strength.

BOXING: Dynes shines for Team Ireland in the States

Team Ireland secured two big wins over team America in two Bridges Beyond Boxing events in Buffalo and Boston. The away squad wasted no time in getting down to business with practice sessions getting underway a matter of hours after touching down stateside. Yes they were there to build relations across the Atlantic and to experience a new culture but ultimately this team of experienced and competitive amateurs wanted to showcase their talents on the big stage.

BOXING: Could the Donovan-Crocker trilogy be on?

On Friday evening Limerick’s Paddy Donovan took a big step closer to his dream of winning a world title by defeating Karen Chukhadzhian in a IBF welterweight eliminator. The impressive comeback performance was his first since the devastating loss against Belfast’s Lewis Crocker in Windsor Park last September. Fighting in Mannheim, Germany The ‘Real Deal’ dropped his opponent twice before getting the decision. Ukrainian Chukhadzhian’s record was 26-3 going into the bout so he was certainly no push-over and could have been a risky fight for Donovan who couldn’t afford to lose for the third time in a row.

BOXING: Agyarko seeking that elusive world title shot

Belfast’s Caomhin Agyarko was due to face American Brandon Adams in a final eliminator contest for the IBF world-light middleweight title in Las Vegas on Saturday evening. Winning the fight was the last stepping stone in him achieving his dream of becoming Ireland’s first black World Champion. Awaiting him would be the chance to join his old club mates from Belfast’s Holy Trinity Boxing Club, Anthony Cacace and Lewis Crocker, in the elusive pool of those who hold boxing’s highest honours.

BOXING: End of an era as Conlan hangs up his gloves

Belfast’s Michael Conlan had the chance to take another huge step forward in securing a third world title fight when he took on the undefeated American Kevin Walsh in the SSE Arena on Friday night.

BOXING: Murphy unlucky in close contest

Belfast’s Colm Murphy took on Dublin’s Jono Carroll on the Cacace Dickens undercard in the 3Arena on Saturday night. Murphy went into the fight unbeaten with an impressive (16-0) record whilst the more experienced Carroll looked to build on his 25-3-1 record. ‘King Kong’ Carroll’s last outing came one year ago with a unanimous decision win over Alexander Prado in Dubai but he showed little signs of ring rust and got straight to work from the opening bell. The younger man by seven years Murphy last fought in February where he claimed the Commonwealth Featherweight Title. Tonight the vacant IBO Super-Featherweight strap was up for grabs.

BOXING: Stunning Cacace becomes two-time world champion

Andersonstown’s Anthony Cacace became the WBA Super Featherweight Champion of the World on Saturday night in Dublin’s 3Arena in front of a sell out home crowd. His opponent, Liverpool’s Jazza Dickens was making his first title defence having secured the interim WBA title last July and promoted to full champion in December when Lamont Roach Jr vacated the strap.

Boxing returns to Belfast's Waterfront Hall

CONLAN Sport and Hammer Boxing brought boxing back to the Waterfront Hall on Friday with a huge card featuring eight highly competitive fights featuring a wealth of local boxing talent.

BOXING: Croc to defend IBF title Down Under

LEWIS Crocker will make his first defence of his IBF welterweight world title in Australia against Liam Paro.

BOXING: Michael Conlan to face Walsh in Belfast next month

MICHAEL Conlan will fight in Belfast’s SSE Arena on 20 March as he continues to work his way towards a third world title shot.

BOXING: Murphy claims Commonwealth crown and sets sights on world stage

South Belfast’s Colm Murphy delivered a confident performance on home soil, stopping Tanzania’s African champion Saleh Kassim Abdalla to claim the vacant Commonwealth Featherweight Title at The Mill in Newtownabbey. The victory extends Murphy’s unbeaten record to 16-0 and firmly establishes him as one of Ireland’s leading boxing talents.

Gaelic Games: St Galls thump 14-man Rossa in strong second half

Antrim GAA and Antrim LGFA join forces to celebrate 2026 Antrim schools awards

CELTIC STORIES: You want exciting players and a strong team? How about a new third kit instead?

The Joe McDonnell Festival of Football enjoys another year of success for juvenile football

EYE ON THE PAST: June 1985 – New Travellers' site at the Windy Gap

PLATING UP: Chicken with red pepper in a creamy mustard sauce

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: Is there a test that Jon Burrows can pass?

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Micheál, just don't make the same mistakes that Keir made

Richard Kennedy

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