Boxing Roundup: Dunne to end long layoff against Betts in Dublin
February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Dunne’s first bout in six months also marks his homecoming three years after he turned pro and moved to Los Angeles under the tutelage of the great Sugar Ray Leonard.
Dunne decided to return to Dublin and garner European honors last fall when Leonard quit the promotional business.
The 25-year-old, long touted as Wayne McCullough’s heir-apparent in the 126-pound division, hopes to give Irish fans something to cheer about in the wake of the “Pocket Rocket’s” latest world title failure with a convincing win over the light-hitting Betts.
Dunne, 14-0 with 8 KOs and coming off a gut-check points victory over Mexican Adrian Valdez in Minnesota last August, was bullish over his chances against the 18-3 (6 KOs) Betts going into the match.
“I have sparred with some of the best fighters in the world, like [junior middleweight] Shane Mosley before he fought Oscar De La Hoya, Johnny Tapia, Manny Pacquaio and even [heavyweight] James Toney so I don’t fear anyone in this division,” he said.
Betts, who’s 27 and fights out of Scunthorpe, turned pro in 1998 and lost an eight-rounder to Rocky Dean in his most recent outing, last December.
When the fight was announced a month ago, Dunne talked of boxing one more time after dispatching Betts and then challenging Cook, a 25-year-old Englishman with a 24-0, 14-KO ledger.
According to New York-based matchmaker Ron Katz, who worked with Dunne when he was with the Leonard Promotions and who is still in touch with the fighter’s manager, Brian Peters, the Cook fight could happen sooner rather than later.
“He could fight Nicky Cook next for the European title if he looks good against Betts,” Katz disclosed.
Katz said Dunne’s homecoming had sold out the 2,000-seat arena where the bout will be held.
“[Actor] Daniel Day-Lewis called for six tickets and only got two,” he added.
The plan mooted by Peters is for Dunne to fight at least six times in Ireland over the next 18 months.
“I would hope to do fights in Dublin, Cork and Belfast, maybe even Galway, but this first show has to be a success and we need the backing of the fans and business as well,” Peters said.
BARRETT SIGHTING
On the undercard of Dunne-Betts is former Olympian Francis Barrett the Galway Traveler and European Union light-welterweight champion who will also be boxing professionally on home soil for the fist time. His opponent had yet to be announced last weekend.
Based in London since 1996, Barrett (16-2, 2 KOs), turned pro in 2000 after being overlooked for the Sydney Olympics. Four years earlier, Barrett, who’s 28, had carried the Irish flag at the opening ceremony of the Atlanta Games.
His success in becoming the first Traveler qualify for the world’s biggest sporting event turned him into an instant national hero.
IRISH FIGHT NIGHT
Heavyweight Kevin McBride and three other Irish prizefighters have been added to the March 18 ESPN2 card at the Foxwoods Casino where middleweight prospect John Duddy will put his unbeaten record on the line against Leonard Pierre on national television.
The 6-foot-6 “Clones Colossus,” who’s been inactive since December 2003, will attempt to shake off the rust against Irish-American Kevin “Big Dog” Monity in the main event of the show the night after St. Patrick’s Day.
Also on the card, dubbed “A Night of the Irish,” will be McBride’s Cappiello Promotions stablemates James and John Clancy of County Clare. Opponents for the two brothers will be announced later. The show is a joint venture by Northeastern Promotions and Cappiello.
McBride, who now calls Brockton, Mass., home, has been out of the ring since improving to 31-4-1 (26 KOs) with a third-round TKO of Marcus Rhode 14 months ago. He turned down an offer to fight Mike Tyson last summer after a reduction in the original purse only to see his replacement, Briton Danny Williams, halt the former champion in four rounds.
Monity, a 6-5 Flat Rock, Mich., resident, is 15-2-1 (12 KOs) as a pro. The 29-year-old’s last outing was a points loss to Demetrice King in Detroit last November. He turned pro in April 2000.
Heavyweight James Clancy, meanwhile, is a 31-year-old late bloomer who made his pro debut in March 2003 but has only fought three times since. He’s 3-0 with one KO via the short route.
James decisioned Dan Sheehan over four rounds in Boston in his last appearance, 10 months ago.
Brother John, a cruiserweight, is 1-0.
Tickets, priced at $75, $60, and $35, are available from the Foxwoods box office at 1 (800) 200-2882 or on line at www.foxwoods.com.