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Boxing Roundup: Trashtalk silenced with win

February 17, 2011

By Staff Reporter

In the main event, Bernard Dunne halted last minute substitute Sean Hughes to claim the vacant IBC world super-bantamweight title, while Jim Rock avenged his points loss to Alan Jones two years ago with a 12 round decision over the Welshman for the IBC’s middleweight crown.
Fagan’s emphatic win over the debuting Scifo came in the former Port Marnock midfielder’s Dublin homecoming after giving up football for prizefighting more than two years ago.
The 31 year-old and his one-time buddy from Oklahoma City’s Badlands Gym had been feuding going into the scheduled six-round bout, with Scifo dismissing the Dubliner as a mere physical education teacher and promising to knock him out in front of his fans.
Scifo looked like he’d back up his bluster in the opening seconds of the contest during which he threw fast left jabs and right counters. However, a monster right hook to the jaw one minute and 23 seconds into the contest separated the American from his senses.
Fagan, whose pro ledger improved to 9-3 (6 KOs), was surprised by the sudden stoppage after training for a long bruising fight.
“Naturally, I’m delighted to make such a good showing on my Irish debut,” said the Oklahoma State champion. “I wasn’t expecting such a quick win. I was prepared to go the scheduled six rounds.”

DUNNE SHINES
Bernard Dunne’s gamble to drop four pounds and challenge for the fringe IBC’s 122-pound crown paid off when he destroyed overmatched Yorkshireman Sean Hughes in two heats at the National Stadium.
Undefeated in 16 featherweight bouts, Dunne had too much power for the light hitting Hughes (10-3-1, 1 KO) who was a late replacement for former European bantamweight champion Noel Wilders.
The 25 year-old had his way with Hughes in the first stanza before hurting him with a right hook. Dunne then opened up, landing several unanswered blows that forced referee Paul Thomas to end the match.
“I could see that he was hurt and the referee made the right decision to stop the contest,” said Dunne, now 17-0 (10 KOs).
The former Los Angeles resident hopes to make his first title defense in December before going after European super-bantamweight champion Esham Pickering.

ROCK SOLID
Also on the Dublin undercard, Jim Rock claimed a second minor world title for Ireland when he outpointed old foe Alan Jones over 12 rounds for the IBC middleweight belt.
Rock (26-4, 7 KOs) won by scores of 116-112, 116-112, 117-112 in avenging a points loss to the Welshman two years back.
And ex-IBO super middleweight titlist Brian Magee (24-2, 17 KOs) got his career back on track with a second round stoppage of Armenian Varuzhan Davtyan.
Magee lost a disputed decision to Vitali Tsypko in his bid for the European diadem in Germany last July.

MACKLIN FIGHT
Matt Macklin will fight Anthony Little (5-2) of Ohio at the New Alhambra (Ritner & Swanson streets) in South Philadelphia next Friday (October 28), in the Irish middleweight champ’s first bout in that legendary fight city since relocating there in summer.
“It should be a great night,” said Tom Moran, Macklin’s U.S. contact. “The fight will be televised throughout northeast U.S. on Comcast CN8, reaching over seven million homes.”
Macklin (14-1, 10 KOs) has fought once since setting up shop States-side, a third round KO over Leo Laudat in Atlantic City last August. And although the 23 year-old boldly threw the gauntlet down at the other big U.S.-based Irish 160-pounder, John Duddy, the moment he walked off the plane, prospects of a Celtic superfight between the two have cooled considerably since.
“I’ve talked to Duddy’s match-maker and I think we’ll all work together in the future helping both guys rather than looking to fight each other,” Moran said. “The Irish need more great warriors so why be fighting each other now? May be if it was for a world title.”
Tickets for the Macklin-Little show are pegged at $35, $45 and $50, and are available by calling Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922) or Irish Group Sales at (215) 752-3559.

MOORE OPPONENT NAMED
James Moore will fight Swedish super middleweight Manji Conteh at the Hammerstein Ballroom (34th St. and Eighth Ave.) in Manhattan on November 4.
Show headliner John Duddy’s opponent for a possible New York State title tilt was still being sought by press time.
Conteh is listed as 5-5 (3 KOs) by Boxrec.com. He turned pro in 2003 and in his second fight, lost a four round decision to Tarek Rached who was later was kayoed by the debuting Duddy.
Moore is 3-0 (2 KOs) and is coming off a dramatic victory in Massachusetts last month, during which he was decked in the second round but came back to KO veteran Hollister Elliott in the third stanza.
Ticket information for the Nov. 4 card is available from the Irish Ropes Gym at (718) 318-5145.

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