GAA star and champ's brother join charity boxing event

A GAA all-star and a brother of world champion middleweight boxer Steve Collins are to go toe to toe with a line up of white collar boxers to raise money for charity.

Cork football and hurling legend Teddy McCarthy and former Bohemians maager Roddy Collins will jump into the ring with some of New York’s finest amateur scrappers in the name of good causes.

The opening bouts between ordinary workers will be held in Gleasons Gym in New York in October followed one month later by ‘A Night in Las Vegas’ in Dublin. The contest will be rounded off with USA versus Ireland ‘St Paddy’s Day Punch Up’ back in Gleasons in March 2006.

The 45-year-old Collins said the boxing training had given him a new lease of life.

“It’s great to get away from the pressure of the day job. It’s the best thing I ever got involved in. At 45, it has given me a new lease of life,” he said.

“I grew up in a boxing household but had to decide between boxing and soccer eventually. But there’s nothing like the adrenalin when you step into the ring.”

The cash raised from Collins’ bouts will help raise money to care for children with haemophilia, which two of his nephews suffer from.

All-Ireland winner McCarthy said he hoped the fights would raise much needed funds for children in Cork.

“I’ll be looking to train every day of the week. GAA clubs and players are embracing boxing now, the sport has taken on board how to get players very fit - now, by using boxing training, they are bringing in the toughness element into it.

“I’ve never set foot in a ring but it’s a sport I’ve always loved. I always fancied giving it a go and I have looked for challenges all my life.”

White-collar boxing first appeared in New York after two Wall Street workers bet on who would be standing after three rounds.

Organiser O’Grady is hoping Irish workers will be as keen to jump into the ring as another six fighters are needed for the contest.