Articles for November 2014

McCarthy pleased with pro progress and promises more to come

Belfast cruiserweight Tommy McCarthy is enjoying the early stages of his professional career and insists that he left the amateur code with no regrets, but perhaps a couple of disappointments. Speaking on the day before his third fight (what turned out to be a first-round blitz of Dimitar Spaiyski) McCarthy briefly discussed his days in the unpaid code and laid out his hopes for the future.

McCarthy delights the Devenish but tougher tests will come

It’s fair to say that sparking an overmatched Bulgarian at a small hall show in Belfast may not put the cruiserweight division on red alert. But if Tommy McCarthy progresses as quickly as his team, fight fans, boxing scribes and the man himself all believe then the top cruiserweights in Ireland and the UK will be finding out sooner rather than later. As far as Tommy is concerned speed brings power.

Shane McGuigan: ‘Kiko was like a wounded lion’

Photograph: Brian Peters Promotions

“A fighter is at his most dangerous when hurt” is an aphorism often trawled out after boxing matches. Trainer Shane McGuigan has seen his own stock rise off the back of Frampton’s success, since taking over full training duties from Belfast veteran Gerry Storey. Considered and erudite in his vocal delivery, Shane’s record is currently speaking for itself despite the detractors.

Sweeney to retire if Tims wins rematch

Photograph: Matchroom Boxing

From the desk of Anthony Leaver, Matchroom Sports – Michael Sweeney says he will retire if he doesn’t beat Ian Tims in their Cruiserweight rematch at The 3Arena in Dublin on November 15, live on Sky Sports. Sweeney and Tims met for the Irish title in March 2011, with Tims edging the Mayo man 97-95 to claim the vacant belt.