Cavan boxing club goes from strength to strength
THERE is a growing sense of optimism for boxing fans in Co. Cavan and given the run of success enjoyed by Cavan boxers in 2007 the incoming twelve months should see further representative honours and titles coming to the club.
The Cavan Boxing Club based in Ballinagh and is the home of Cavan boxing at present. The last year saw unparrelled success with no less than four members of the club holding world titles at once, a record unlikely to be equalled by any other club in Ireland.
There has also been the progress of teenager John Joe Nevin from world class junior boxing into a realistic Olympic Games contender and 17 year-old novice Luke Cadden from raw novice to international honours in just over a year in the sport.
On the professional scene Andrew Murray put 15 months of managerial problems and inactivity behind him to come back with two good wins and an Irish title to reignite his career.
There were also some excellent tournaments held and the quality of matching, organisation and presentation of these events drew praise all round.
Cavan Boxing Club entertained the Canadian national squad and the Garda Boxing team who proved not only excellent competition but were also fine ambassadors for the game.
The success of the Cavan boxers certainly was not just locally as club members were in action on all five continents during the year, a terrific achievement for a club based in the wilderness of Ulster boxing.
Other clubs
The gym in O'Rahilly Hall in Ballinagh is enjoying record membership just now and the success of their boxers had led to resurgence of interest throughout the county.
The newly-formed club in Bunnoe is going great guns while the New Year will see the formation of two new clubs with amateur boxing returning to Cootehilll and Belturbet.
The success of the Virginia contingent currently boxing out of Cavan Boxing Club has had a positive effect in that area and we could well see a club officiated in that area.
Top kick-boxing coach Mick Downey is currently assisting in the Cavan gym as he awaits his I.A.B.A. qualifications and will prove to be the catalyst to kick start the game in that part of the county.
Won gold medals
The World Police and Fire-men's Championships held in Adelaide, Australia saw local fireman, Johnny Mitchell and Garda David Conlon take gold medals for Ireland.
Mitchell returned after a 10 year absence from the ring to produce three knock-outs over opponents from Tunisia, Sweden and Spain to being the curtain down.
Cavan-based Mayo man, David Conlon also took gold in the middleweight division with three excellent wins on route to the title.
Garda Conlon enjoyed the honour of graduating form the Garda Training Centre as the top student and managed to combine his studies and Garda work with a successful boxing career that saw him represent Ireland in Russia, The United States and Poland this year as well as a coaching role with the Cavn Boxing Club.
Bruskey girl's success
At the Ringside World Boxing Championships in Kansas City, U.S., Bruskey's Caroline Reilly went one better than her silver medal in 2006 by taking gold in the lightweight open class.
She joined clubmate David Francis Nevin as the only two Irish boxers to hold these prestigious world titles.
The talented Lacken camogie player was also successful in representative matches for Ulster and Ireland against Wales and Denmark to cap a fastastic twelve months.
Caroline began her championship campaign with a convincing win over Canadian champion Brittany Currie, and followed thatg up with a semi-final win over U.S. rated number four Edel Jeffery from New York.
The title was won after a tough, bruising contest with Savannah Osbourne from Min-nesota on a close though unanimous decision.
The Co. Cavan girl began well with her better all-round boxing ability giving her a good lead over the first half of the contest, before having to with-stand a torrid final two rounds against the more physically-mature and experienced U.S. boxer.
Caroline displayed the heart of a real champion and went toe to toe with her oponent to grind out a very popular result.
Cavan's other two entries at the Ringside championships were Michelle Brady and Simon Cadden who both stayed in contention until the semi-final stages where both were eliminated by the eventual champion after excellent efforts.
Michelle Brady defeated Tole-do's Rebecca Smith before going down to U.S. number one Queen Underwood from Philadelphia while Simon Cadden came of age with a second round stoppage of Tewas fighter Ernesto Arjunio before going down on points to Thomas Hwitt-Johnston from Oklahoma in a close and exciting contest.
Cavan teenager John Joe Nevin came within two punches of a medal at the World Juniors (U-19) championships in Morrocco and after defeating opponents from Bulgaria, Nigeria and Romania went out by a single point to the American Luis Yanez who will be his country's representative at the Olympics.
John Joe was the victim of another blatant injustice at the European's in France when he was eliminated by the champion on a 47/46 countback after a 16-16 draw on the scorecards.
Nevin is currently rated sixth in the world at U-19 level and has gone on to win gold medals and 'best boxer' awards at multi-nations tournaments in Ireland, Canada, Germany and Lithuania since his disappoint-ment.
He has already represented Ireland at senior level with a couple of good wins in Poland, including a win over another Olympic qualifier in the host country's fighter, Rafeal Kaczor.
This successful run didn't go unnoticed and earned J. J. a call-up to the Irish High performance team and a realistic contender for the Olympics.
He underlined his tremendous potential by moving up to bantanweight and taking a clear points victory over national champion, Marc McCullough from Belfasts Cairn Lodge Club.
Nevin in
Olympic qualifiers
The national senior cham-pionships in early January will provide Ireland's entry for the last two Olympic qualifiers in Greece and Italy and an Irish title is necessary for selection.
John Joe will be joined by his middleweight cousin the fiery, exciting and experienced David Nevin in search of a national boxing title.
The tough, aggressive David lost out in the Irish senior final two years ago, but has won the Four-Nations Championships at junior and senior levels. He has also won multi-nations gold medals and is an experienced campaigner on the international scene.
The Cavan southpaw has been inactive this season and has put on weight but if he can shed the ring rust quickly he can be a test for the very best.
Progress of Cadden
The Virginia 17 year-old Luke Cadden has progressed rapidly in the last year going from provincial and national titles at youth level to win intermediate titles at both novice and open level in Ulster this season, contest the Irish U-21 final and go the distance with high performance boxer Con Sheehan and ending the year with an international vest against France at U-19 level.
Cadden who fights in the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions is viewed as the best prospect among the big boys in this area since the emergence of Tyson's conqueror, Kevin McBride from Clones.
However, Luke's career will be carefully managed in the 'Cavan way' with good coaching, matching and gradual progression to ensure he is up to the more physically demanding tests that await him in senior boxing.
Other Cavan boxers to claim titles in 2007 included Hugh and Joe Nevin at the national juveniles.
This pair also joined Simon Cadden, Paddy Nevin, Yvonne Courtney, Niall Kerr and Luke Cadden as Ulster title holders.
Female boxing
Female boxing is one of the countries fastest growing sports and the Cavan club are well represented as well.
The trio of Caroline Reilly, Michelle Brady and Yvonne Courtney have all won titles at Ulster and national levels and have also enjoyed international experience.
Caroline and Michelle have been a big miss this season with Caroline taking a year out of college for a working holiday in Australia, while Killygarry's Michelle travels to Manchester to study for her nursing qualifications.
However, it is hoped to have both in action on a tournament in Cavan later in the season.
Yvonne Courtney now leads the female section and has gained her I.A.B.A. coaching qualifications and completed the child protection officers course and carries out that role with the club.
Coaching staff
The Cavan Boxing Club coaching staff includes founder member and long-time coach, Brian McKeown ably assisted by Sean Crowley, a former top-class amateur on the London boxing scene.
All three world champions Johnny Mitchell, David Conlon and Caroline Reilly have all successfully completed the I.A.B.A. coaching course and examinations and underline the continuity, loyalty and comradeship of this tight-knit little club with a valuable input to the training programmes.
Add to this the experience of former national champion, Pat Cosgrove, Yvonne Courtney and Mick Downey and one can see Cavan Boxing Club remaining a force for some time to come.
There are a number of new boys who will emerge over the next 12 months and may well have their debuts on the Cavan Tournament in January, 2008 and at the Mid-Ulster Novice Championships early in the new year.
It is certain that many of these fighters will go on to success in the future and that the commitment, discipline and hard work ethic demanded of a Cavan boxer will stand to them as they progress in life.
Murray still
unbeaten
ANDREW MURRAY was one of Ireland's top amateur boxers for a number of years and while remaining undefeated as a professional most of his contests have been fought in London on the dinner show circuit.
However, he has now relocated to Cavan and ended a long spell of inactivity with two good wins in the last six weeks of the year.
Murray followed up his excellent win over English Central Area champion, Billy Smith in London by moving up a weight and taking the Irish light-welter title with a victory over James Gorman at the legendary Kings Hall, Belfast.
While the Gorman victory created some controversy Andrew was well on the way to victory when an unfortunate clash of heads left him with a cut eye that later required six stitches and an anti-climax points victory by technical decision.
Hoping for a busy
and successful 2008
This victory now projects Murray into contention for some bigger fights and a commitment from manager Mickey Helliott to keep his fighter busy this year and deliver a title shot next season could well see the Cavan town boxers profile increase in the next 12 months.
The emgergence of Co. Meath businessman Brian Peters on the promotional scene could well be Andrew Murray's best way of success.
There are a number of top promotions planned in Ireland in the coming 12 months anmd a quality performer and a good ticket-seller like Murray is an ideal fighter to groom for stardom and he could well be one of the 'future faces' on the Irish fight scene.
While the Cavan town man's victories include a number of the usual 'suspects' they have all been proven stayers and have provided Andrew with the rounds and experience that will benefit him as his career proceeds.
As well as his victory over Billy Smith, Murray also holds victories over French opposition in Tony Jourda and Frederic Gossett as well as Midlands Area champion, Carl Allen and Nigerian tough nut, Silences Saheed among the professionals.
A well-travelled international as an amateur with appearances at world championships in Russia and Thailand and Europeans in Croatic and Siberia the Cavan man is a well-schooled, tough, fit and very experienced campaigner.
Prospects good
Murray also holds an inside the distance victory over the new British middleweight champion, Gary Woolcombe as an amateur in an Ireland versus England match and a points win in the Four Nations final over Femi Fehimola the British super featherweight champion.
Andrew's problems as a professional is he is too good for his own good and his performances in sparring in the tough London professional gyms has proved a handicap as the major players in England are too aware of his ability and keep their prospects well away from the Cavan stylist.
One hopes to see Andrew have a successful 2008 and hope that the return to the Cavan gym and long-time coach, Brian McKeown will reproduce the glory of former years. He is a real boxing talent!