Dunne and Martinez square up

BERNARD DUNNE came face to face with his next opponent when the current wonder boy of Spanish boxing, Kiko Martinez, made a dramatic appearance in the ring before John Duddy’s fight at the National Stadium on Saturday night.

And, not to be outdone, Dunne, who was doing fight analysis for Duddy’s contest, climbed in with his manager, Brian Peters, to face up to the sombrero-wearing contingent from Alicante.

Peters then revealed that the mandatory defence will take place at The Point on August 25.

It is understood that the millionaire businessman from Dunshaughlin made the Spaniards an offer they could not refuse.

“It was a lot of money,” Peters admitted afterwards. “We will put on another great show..”

Further details of the bill will be revealed at a press conference in the Burlington Hotel at lunch time today but there is speculation that Andy Lee, currently based in Detroit, will make his home debut as a professional and that the first ever British title fight could be about to take place in The Republic.

Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday.