Articles for April 2014
North Belfast Boxing Nostalgia
Nostalgia was in the air at the Midland Boxing Club on 23 April when John McNally, Ireland’s first Olympic medallist, returned to the York Road area to meet up with world title prospect Carl Frampton.
Hugo Cazares: ‘Frampton didn’t hit me the hardest’
Even though he crumbled in the second round after eating a big Carl Frampton left hook, Hugo Cazares says that he has been hit harder in his career. The well-travelled Mexican has negotiated many rounds during his long stint as a pro boxer and reckons that he is in a good position to judge Frampton’s punching power.
Cazares is in the past as Frampton targets Santa Cruz mega-fight
Photograph: Russell Pritchard
The referee crouched to his knees and stared directly into the eyes of the grizzled Mexican veteran. Hugo Cazares looked across the ring at his adversary and winked. Carl Frampton stood motionless in a neutral corner, waiting for further instructions from referee Victor Loughlin – waiting to be unleashed so he could finish the job.
‘I’m making a complaint to the WBC’ says angry Cazares
Photograph: theboxingtribune.com
Hugo Cazares claimed that he was angry with his stoppage loss to Carl Frampton on April 4. Even though the referee was receiving the brunt of the disgust he should also accept some responsibility for failing to answer the count on time.
Pat Magee has big plans for Philip Sutcliffe Jnr
Photograph: Russell Pritchard
Phil Sutcliffe Jnr will be fighting for the European title in 10 fights’ time if new manager Pat Magee’s career plan comes to fruition. Pat has plenty of experience in the boxing game after managing Brian Magee and Kiko Martinez in recent years. Now he sees Sutcliffe as the man with the right credentials to push Dublin boxing back on to the map.
Andy Lee fights in Denmark tonight
Irish middleweight contender Andy Lee, 31-2 (22 KOs), will be in action this Saturday evening against Frenchman Frank Haroche Horta, 34-12-5 (13 KOs), in a Sauerland Promotion event at the Blue Water Dokken Sports Venue, Esbjerk, Denmark.
Conlan and McCullough aiming for May 23 show
Photograph: Russell Pritchard
Jamie Conlan finally got a title belt around his waist following a seventh-round stoppage victory over durable Belgian Benjamin Smoes on Friday, April 4. Conlan’s bout was increased to a 12-round affair which will work in his favour whenever a case is made for British or Commonwealth title shots.
Ringside Report: Frampton-Cazares + Full Undercard
Photograph: Russell Pritchard/Cyclone Promotions
Carl Frampton moved one step closer to a world title shot by stopping former two-time world champion Hugo Cazares in the second round. Entering the ring to the raucous atmosphere he has become accustomed to, Frampton was out to rubberstamp his credentials and prove that he belongs in the ring with the likes of WBC world champion Leo Santa Cruz.
Cummings ready to impress his fans on Odyssey undercard
Photograph: Russell Pritchard/Cyclone Promotions
Red-hot middleweight prospect Conrad Cummings has admitted that moving to London was exactly what he needed to aid his development as a professional. Even though the 22-year-old is still in the embryonic stages of his career, Cummings is already adapting to the new regime set out by trainer Shane McGuigan. Some quality sparring with the likes of former world title challenger Andy Lee will help bring him on even quicker.