While May 2 heralded the end of boxing’s most notorious cold war inside the ring, it was the coming together of two prominent power brokers outside it which ultimately made the fight a reality.

Ireland’s Katie Taylor was today named the best woman boxer of the year for the second time.

DAVID OLIVER JOYCE is poised to become the star of the multi-nations boxing tournament in Ballybunion following another spectacular performance at the Tintean Theatre yesterday when he outpointed a teak tough Welshman, Matthew Edmonds, for a place in tonight’s finals.