February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
In trying his luck as a prizefighter in South Boston, the 21-year-old super middleweight joined a growing corps of Gaelic fighters pursuing fame and fortune States-side.
At age 34, Wayne McCullough may be the best-known Irish-born fighter in the last decade. And by dint of his 18-month reign as World Boxing Council bantamweight champ in the mid-1990s, he’s certainly been the most successful.
But as the Las Vegas-based Ulsterman enters the twilight of his career, a new wave of fighters from the Emerald Isle is trying to make its mark in the world’s toughest market while hoping to emulate his success.
They are heavyweights, cruiserweights, super middleweights and middleweights; boxers with some notoriety such as the “Clones Colossus” and John Duddy, and others less known, such as James Moore and Rea.
Like Rea, a sleek boxer with a 67-10 amateur record who recently signed a three-year contract with Rhode Island’s Classic Entertainment and Sports promotions, they left Ireland disenchanted with the limited opportunities there and their eyes firmly focused on boxing’s el dorado across the Atlantic.
“The gyms in Ireland are more like fitness centers,” said Rea, a strapping 6-footer who quickly made an impression on trainer Goody Petronelli of Steve Collins and Marvelous Marvin Hagler fame.
“Here the technique and sparring is better. And besides, the Petronellis’ is the place to be,” he added, noting the famous Brockton gym that has been a beacon for Irish pugs ever since Collins parlayed his hardscrabble apprenticeship there in the late 1980s into two world titles.
Petronelli speaks highly of Rea, whom he’s been working with for five months.
“He’s got good potential, nice speed, nice combination and a good amateur record,” the trainer said. “He looks like he could do something.”
Now 2-0 (1 KO) since a first-round TKO victory over Devin Womack in his debut last summer, Rea is just one of several boxers in an area that’s once again becoming a hotbed of Irish boxing.
Petronelli also has under his wings Kevin McBride — the “Clones Colossus,” who narrowly missed a date with destiny last July when a scheduled scrap with Mike Tyson collapsed over money issues — and the returning Paschal Collins, Steve’s brother, who’s been out of the ring since 1999.
Ireland’s reigning heavyweight champion and custodian of the fringe IBC Americas belt, McBride (31-4-1, 26 KOs) settled in the U.S. three years ago and is promoted by Rich Cappiello, a nephew of the great Rocky Marciano.
Fresh off a training camp in sunny Florida, the 6-foot-6 behemoth from Barry McGuigan’s hometown is scheduled to headline the March 18 ESPN2 show at Foxwoods Casino that will feature three other Irish pugs.
McBride meets Kevin Monity, a good-sized man himself at 6-5, with expectations of either a second sniff at Tyson or a dream matchup with WBA heavyweight titlist and fellow New Englander John Ruiz down the line, should he prevail.
“It’s going to be exciting — two big men in the ring going at each other,” he said of his 10-rounder with Monity.
Two other Irish members of Cappiello’s vast stables, the Clancy brothers, James and Mark, will also be on the Foxwoods card. Introduced to the promoter by McBride last year, both men are heavyweights and are trained by retired Irish-American slugger Mickey Ward.
The siblings hail from Kilsenora, Co. Clare, and now live in Watertown, Mass. But they are headed south — weight wise — where Cappiello sees them making noise in the cruiserweight division.
“They are good fighters, these kids,” he said. “I expect James to come down to 215 pounds on March 18 and then work his way down to cruiserweight, [then] we’ll be a force.”
“I always fought at 200 pounds as an amateur,” said James Clancy, a five-time All-Ireland senior champion with Dublin’s St. Savior’s ABC, Steve Collins’s alma mater.
Undefeated in three pro starts (1 KO) James, at 31, is three years older than Mark, who’s 1-0 as a pro.
The younger Clancy, however, is closer to a natural cruiser at 205 pounds and an inch taller at 6-2.
The hub area also boasts of Galway product Martin Thornton, a 9-1-1 middleweight dubbed the “Irish Assassin,” who spent some time in New York last year before returning to New England to sign with CES Promotions.
New York City itself is the adopted home of Ireland’s most exciting prospect, charismatic middleweight John Duddy, whose concussive power has made him one of the most feared prelim fighters on the local club circuit.
He’s 8-0 with all eight wins via the short route going into a risky fight against Kevin Rooney’s 16-0 “Haitian Sensation” Leonard Pierre on ESPN2 on March 18.
Duddy’s motivation for leaving Derry City to pursue a ring career in America echoes Rea’s sentiments.
“I saw a lot of Irish fighters step across the water who’ve done well, like Collins and McCullough,” he said. “The reason I came here was for boxing knowledge. Nowhere could I learn as much about boxing than working and training in New York City.”
A crowd favorite, Duddy will soon have familiar company in the paid ranks in the shape of light middleweight James Moore, a frequent roommate during their amateur days.
Moore, an Arklow native and bronze medallist in the 2001 world championships held in Belfast, has been training under Duddy trainer Harry Keitt at Gleason’s Gym while finalizing his pro status before making his debut.
The 26-year-old, a veteran of more than 300 amateur bouts, including two European and two world championship tournaments, can’t wait to get started.
“The sooner the better. I’m hoping to get in eight fights this year,” said Moore, who’s been in the country since January.
New York is also the home of heavyweights Declan (3-0) and John Timlin (0-1) from Mayo, as well as the first Irish-owned boxing promotional outfit in five years — Eddie McLoughlin’s Irish Ropes Promotions.
McLoughlin was a partner in the short-lived Rockall Promotions that promoted Martin O’Malley and former world super bantamweight contender John Lowey in 2000. He promises to be around for the long haul this time.
With his Irish Ropes gym in Far Rockaway an added attraction, the colorful McLoughlin plans to serve as a magnet for Irish fighters willing to try their luck on these shores.
Of course, the Irish boxing landscape in the United States would not be complete without mentioning home-born talent such as O’Malley, a 21-4 (14 KOs) light welterweight from Edmonds, Wash., via County Wicklow, and Danny McDermott, New Jersey-born with County Mayo roots.
Although still learning the ropes with one fight under his belt, the 25-year-old McDermott has impressive connections. Arturo Gatti, the WBC super lightweight champion and former Mickey Ward nemesis is his mentor, while Buddy McGirt, one of the best trainers in the business, is a reassuring figure in his corner.