Dunne wins tenth fight after first knock down

American-based Dubliner Ben Dunne was knocked down for the first time in the tenth fight of his career last night at the Desert Diamond casino in Tucson, Arizona, but managed to remain unbeaten in a six-round unanimous decision over busy Mexican Alejandro Ramirez.

It will come as a shock as Ramirez is a little-known fighter with a record of three wins and one loss, but there were anxious moments early on for the Irishman as Ramirez floored him with a left hook in the second round. Dunne rallied to pull of a 58-55, 59-55, 59-55 verdict for a tenth win, backed by eight KO’s.

The 23-year-old has been blazing a trail across the west coast this past year with KO’s in his previous four fights, including the scalps of Oscar Rosales and Mario Lacey. Perhaps the knockdown, broadcast live on American station ESPN 2, has come at the right time for Dunne, who is seemingly on the cusp of making the big time.

Ron Katz, promoter for the Irish fighter’s stable of Sugar Ray Leonard boxing says that Dunne ‘will have January off, before fighting an eight round bout in February and then in March or April, he’ll be contesting semi-finals on ESPN.’

Dunne’s reputation, although rating himself as still not fully transferred from the amateur game to the pros, is preceding him. He has been sparring with IBF Jr featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao ahead of his November 15 meeting with Marc Antonio Barrera.

Dunne is scheduled to finish off his year with a bout on the Vitali Klitschko - Kirk Johnson under card at Madison Square Garden on December 6, before marrying his girlfriend Pamela early next year.