Cruiserweight Timms top attraction on Castlebar card
The Mayo town proved an ideal centre for Bernard Dunne’s rehabilitation after his shock loss to Kiko Martinez before the Dubliner went on to win the WBA world super bantamweight title.
This time the Royal Theatre will be the venue for an exciting show promoted by Cork businessman Don O’Leary and former European bronze medallist, Phil Sutcliffe, who form DolPhil Promotions and are coming off the back of a success at Dublin’s City West Hotel where the middleweight pairing of Anthony Fitzgerald and Robbie Long served up a memorable contest.
Timms is currently 6-0, and has been included in the runaway success that is Prizefighter – the Barry Hearn-promoted show that has taken Sky Sports by storm over the past year. Timms will be on standby if any of the competitors get injured during the three-fight, three-round competition which sees eight fighters compete in quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final for a prize of £25,000. He has been sparring with the best in Ireland and Britain, including Cork-based Cubans, heavyweight Mike Perez and super-middleweight Luis Garcia.
The show will feature eight of the top up-and-comers in the fight game including Ballyhaunis light heavyweight, John Waldron, Ballinrobe’s undefeated Michael Sweeney who has signed a lucrative deal with Banner Promotions in Philadelphia, Galway’s undefeated cruiserweight Colm Casey and Castlebar’s own professional debutant Finbar Eade.
Sweeney will be hoping for a great send-off from the Western fans before he heads to America while John Waldron will be aiming to get his career back on track after two losses. He lost his debut to Ciaran Healy who boxed Andy Lee amongst others, won his next fight convincingly and was disqualified last time out.
“All John needs is a break,” Don O’Leary said. “Western fans will play a big part on May 23 when they will be roaring him on.”
One of the Hyland brothers from Tallaght is expected to be confirmed for the card.
“Eddie (Hyland) will soon be fighting for the European title, and the May 23 show could be the perfect chance to hone his skills for his assault on the title,” Don O’Leary said.
