World title joy for Dunne

Dubliner Bernard Dunne roused his hometown crowd to its feet last night as he produced a stunning second round stoppage of Sean “Short Fuse” Hughes to capture the IBC Super-Bantamweight title.

The 25-year-old followed up on Jim Rock’s IBC (International Boxing Council) Middleweight success earlier in the night, to win his first world title in his first outing in the 8-stone 10-lbs bantamweight division.

The National Stadium victory over Hughes, who was a late replacement for Noel Wilders, marked Dunne out as Ireland’s 21st world boxing champion and undoubtedly the brightest prospect on the current scene.

Dunne rocked Yorkshire man Hughes back on his heels with a stunning right hook, 25 seconds into the second round, leaving referee Paul Thomas with little option but to call a halt to proceedings moments later.

Dunne had followed up his initial attack with a blistering barrage to his younger opponent’s body and head, capping what was the seventeenth straight win of his near four-year career.

The Dubliner admitted afterwards: “This (winning a world title) is special – it’s the most important day of my life. It’s something I’ve trained for since I was five years of age.

“With my dad (Brendan), Brian (Peters) and my trainer Harry (Hawkins), we’ve a good, good team and now we’re up there with the best in the world.

“We wanted to come out and control the fight and look for the opening and it just came early on. I’m very happy with how the fight went and this belt means a heck of a lot to me.”

Dunne’s manager Brian Peters added: “He did what he had to do and I don’t believe the Irish public have seen the best of Bernard yet - not by a long way.

“Hopefully we’ll get another fight in before Christmas.”

England's European Super-Bantamweight champion Esham Pickering is now a plausible target for Dunne, but Meath man Peters reckons such a meeting could be “a win or two away” yet.

If Neilstown native Dunne was to move back up to his regular weight, then reigning European EBU Featherweight champion Nicky Cook could also be sought out. Dunne is rated fourth in the European Boxing Union’s latest Featherweight rankings.