Stateside knockout Dunne back in Dublin

BERNARD DUNNE is back home in Dublin for his first break from the gym in two years following his demolition of Mario Lacey in West Virginia last week.

The break will give the 23-year-old Dubliner time to reflect on what has been a whirlwind campaign in which he has taken the boxing public by storm across the USA. Last Thursday night’s fight was televised live,

Showtime opened the programme with it, and now he is being hunted by the rival HBO channel.

“They may not have seen much of Bernard - most of his fights have culminated in first round knock outs - but they certainly have liked what they have seen,” manager Brian Peters said, while Dunne added: “We have two major TV stations wanting to show our next couple of fights. It’s all pretty exciting. I think everybody is impressed with what’s been happening.”

What happened last week was impressive. Lacey was chosen as a worthy opponent, one to take the Irishman a few rounds if not the scheduled eight. But he met the same fate as five other Dunne victims, the end coming by way of a first round KO. A left hook to the head and then, as he struggled to regain composure, a perfect left hook to the body put him on the floor and unable to continue.

“I think everybody expected this fight to go a few rounds at least,” Dunne said. “But it has been the same with all of my opponents. All of my opponents have been heavier and that has been deliberate.

“I am much stronger now and that is all down to the good work I have been doing in the gym. As well as that, I have been sparring and training with world class fighters and then, when I meet guys of my own level I am just blowing them away.

“My punching power has increased and my technical ability has improved. I am punching better and more accurately. I don’t waste a shot now.”

And he is very content under the management team that have been taking him through his formative years as a professional boxer.

“Brian (Peters) is a great manager, Ray (Leonard) is promoting me and that’s good and I have the best trainer in the world in Freddie Roach. As well there is a gym full of quality fighters and I am sparring with all of those.”

He had quite a few media people in touch with him after last week’s impressive if brief appearance.

“It got hectic afterwards. People were asking about us, wanting to see us. I think everyone thought this guy would go a few rounds. He had been around a bit and was a very good amateur - five times Golden Gloves.

“They were amazed I put him away so easily. I caught him with an early left hook but it was the left hook to the body that finished him off. I think all the hard work I put in over the years, both as an amateur and professional, has paid off. Now I’ve had five first round KOs, two in the second and one guy went four rounds with me but he was 140 lbs, a junior welterweight, and I knocked him down in the first but the bell saved him.”

Peters added: “Showtime were terribly impressed and immediately labelled him one of the best prospects in the world. They were pointing out he would be soon moving into an exciting phase in his career - between 10 and 20 fights - when he would be really under scrutiny.”