Higgins and Donovan rumble in Neptune cracker
UCC student Higgins is the reigning British and Irish Universities champion and was a runner-up in the recent national intermediate championships.
Limerick man Donovan won an intermediate title at welterweight in 2002 before moving up through the weights to establish himself as one of the top heavyweights in the country — losing narrowly to Niall Kennedy (Garda) in this year’s senior championships.
David Barrett would not dispute that he was beaten by Olympic qualification hopeful, John Joe Joyce, in the senior championships this year but many of his fans agree the scoring didn’t do justice to the Rylane man’s efforts.
On Friday night he meets Wexford welterweight, Niall Murray (Gorey), and goes into that contest on the back of a very impressive victory over Rory O’Donoghue (Riverstown) at the recent St Colman’s show in Youghal.
One contest where it’s guaranteed there will be fireworks is the intermediate middleweight clash which brings Patrick O’Shea (St Colman’s) and Andre Soldra (Sacre Couer, Wexford) together again.
When they met at the St Colman’s show it was telephone booth stuff, with both boxers receiving standing counts before Soldra caught O’Shea with a big left hook that ended the contest in the second round.
Tommy Kiely (The Glen), a former European bronze medallist, is another boxer guaranteed to entertain and he will have it all to do against Limerick youth, Sean Kelly (OLOL). Both are members of an up-and-coming bunch of outstanding young prospects.
And so is stylish Paul Corcoran (Brian Dillons), an Irish schoolboys champion last season, who meets another Limerick boy, Christy O’Donnell.
Peter Keenan (Loughmahon), who showed a lot of potential last year, will command a lot of attention when he makes his seasonal debut against Gavin Healy (Bantry).
Dara O’Mahony (Leeside/Lough) against Martin Storey (Wexford), Finbarr Murphy (Sunnyside) against Barry Barnes (Saviours/Crystal), Ciaran Twomey (Macroom) against Michael Hurley (Sunnyside), Michael McDonagh (Mitchelstown) against Darren Payne (Saviours/Crystal) and Dylan Carroll (Cove ABC) against Jason Kirwan (Wexford) are among the other eagerly-awaited contest.
But probably the most eagerly-awaited contest on the card is the rematch between Ciara Noonan (Fermoy) and Clara Fraher (Dungarvan). Last time they touched gloves the decision went to the Dungarvan girl on countback.
Meanwhile Ricky Hatton’s grand homecoming against Juan Lazcano at the City of Manchester Stadium on May 24 was mired in confusion yesterday when his handlers denied the fight is a done deal.
Although the date and venue remain secure, Hatton insists nothing has been finalised with any prospective 140lbs challenger — something with which Texan Lazcano begs to differ.
Hatton’s father Ray said: “Until you see their signature alongside your signature, it’s never done. We’re hoping the people concerned are going to sign them. It will probably be about another seven days to confirm it.”
However, Lazcano said yesterday: “It’s done — I signed the contract today.”
The Hatton camp’s non-committal approach seems strange given they have two months to sell around 55,000 tickets for a contest against a man who lost his last fight to Vivian Harris, who in turn was subsequently beaten by Junior Witter. But they are clearly banking on the kind of phenomenal box office backing which saw thousands of fans flock to Las Vegas to see Hatton put up a brave showing against Floyd Mayweather in December.
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