Beijing star Egan makes ring return

KENNY EGAN will make his first public appearance in the ring since Beijing in the semi-finals of the national senior championships tonight at the National Stadium.

The Olympic silver medallist turned his back on a pro contract, putting him in line for a sensational ninth consecutive national senior title.

It will be a major surprise if the Neilstown southpaw does not find the measure of Denis Hogan (Grangecon) tonight but next week’s final could be a different kettle of fish.

On the other side of the draw one of the heroes of Ireland’s haul at the world junior championships in Mexico last year, Thomas McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett), makes his senior championship debut against Brendan Fitzpatrick. The Belfast teenager should come through that intact and set up an interesting final with Egan.

World junior champion, Ray Moylette (St. Anne’s, Westport) is also in action tomorrow and faces an assignment against experienced St. Michael’s lightweight, Eric Donovan.

Donovan’s St Michael’s clubmate, Roy Sheahan, is another bidding to get back in the limelight. Injury having kept him out of the championships, the Olympic qualifiers and possibly the Games themselves.

Willie McLoughlin (Illies GG) replaced him at welterweight and will make the first big move to reclaim top spot when he meets the Donegal man in the semi-finals tonight.

Two other Olympians are also in action. John Joe Nevin (Cavan) defends his bantamweight title against Tyrone McCullough (Illies GG) while John Joe Joyce (St. Michael’s, Athy) meets Michael McLoughlin (Crndonagh).

Meanwhile boxing legend Wayne McCullough will hit the comeback trail next month still harbouring hopes of another world title shot.

The 38-year-old former WBC bantamweight champion will face an as yet unnamed opponent at Madison Square Garden on March 16 as the co-feature on a card topped by Irish middleweight prospect Andy Lee.

“I’m back,” McCullough declared. “I’m looking to get back in there. I would like to be promoted the right way, get a few fights and then maybe by the end of this year get a big championship fight.”