KO win for Dunne in Leipzig

Bernard Dunne produced a measured display in Leipzig, Germany tonight to score a sixth round KO of experienced Romanian Marian Leondraliu.

The Dubliner, whose IBC Super Bantamweight title was not on the line in a fight arranged at short notice, was always on top and racked up his 18th straight pro win with considerable ease.

A brace of power-laden left hooks rocked the 32-year-old Leondraliu, a late replacement for Togo fighter Daniel Kodjo Sassou who had visa problems, onto his knees midway through the sixth. The eastern European, gasping for breath, survived the first count but opted out of the second, shortly afterwards, with a shake of his head.

Dunne controlled the early rounds, although an accidental head-butt produced blood over the Neilstown native's left eye in the fourth round of a scheduled eight.

Cheered on by a pocket of leprechaun hat-wielding supporters in the Leipzig Arena, Dunne said afterwards: "One thing we wanted to do was to control the fight and control the pace. I think we did that and for us to get him away early was great.

"The preparations weren't ideal but I'm always in the gym, working away. We needed this fight - we want to box again early in the New Year so if I missed this one, it would have been four months between fights."

Dunne's manager Brian Peters is planning to make an announcement on Thursday regarding his 25-year-old protege's next fight.

Meath man Peters insisted: "He (Leondraliu) was a very, very tough guy - he's come down from a heavier weight, he's been in with guys 18-20 pounds heavier than Bernard.

"But Bernard's the ultimate professional. He’s a nice few quid now so he can buy me a nice Christmas present!"