February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Jay Mwamba
John Lowey, the Belfast-based former IBO world super bantamweight boxing champion, has been added to the Rockall Promotions card on July 21 at Gaelic Park in the Bronx.
The 33-year-old Lowey will use his fight, against an opponent to be announced, on the Martin O’Malley-headlined show as a tune-up for a possible fourth crack at the World Boxing Organization crown in September.
His manager, Martin Somers, said in New York last weekend that Lowey (26-2, 18 KOs) was on a short list of opponents being lined-up for a shot at WBO super bantamweight titlist Marco Antonio Barrera.
Barrera vs. Lowey could be part of undisputed light-heavyweight champ Roy Jones Jr’s. defense against Eric Harding on HBO’s pay-per-view arm, TVKO, on Sept. 9.
"John has had only two loses in his career and both were to world-class fighters," Somers said. "We believe John can give Barrera a good fight and become the only
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Irish world champion at the moment."
Lowey’s last defeat was three years ago against then WBC holder Erik Morales in Tijuana, Mexico. The Belfastman was giving a good account of himself when he was forced to retire in the eighth round with a broken hand. His only other loss was to former world champion Kennedy McKinney.
Although living and training in Belfast, Lowey has boxed exclusively in the United States since 1994. He has fought for three versions of the world title in his 29-fight career, winning the IBO belt in 1995.
Said Eddie McLoughlin of Rockall Promotions: "It would be great for John if it [the Barrera fight] came off, but in the meantime we are excited to have John on our Gaelic Park card."
The addition of Lowey to the Gaelic Park show, the first outdoor boxing event in the city since the Ali-Norton fight 24 years ago, brings the total number of fights on the mostly Irish card to eight.
Lightweight sensation Martin O’Malley (13-0, 12KOs) will make his New York debut in the main event.
Also scheduled to appear on the undercard are super middleweight Joe "The Irish Terror" Hughes, from Stony Point in Rockland County; Westmeath-born, super-middleweight Alo Kelly in his professional debut, and Galway native Colm Keane.
Gaelic Park is at 240th Street and Broadway, The number 1 train stops one block from Gaelic Park. For ticket information ($50 Golden Ringside and $25 ringside), call Rockall Promotions at (718) 318-2727.