Adam Smith takes a trip down memory lane as he prepares for a night in the King's Hall with Paul McCloskey.
McCloskey the latest off the Emerald Isle production line
There's a special link between the gorgeous country of Ireland and our favourite sport. I just love heading over; the nights are hugely atmospheric and the fighters and fights are often so memorable.
This Friday we're back in Belfast as the unbeaten and sharp-shooting southpaw Paul McCloskey makes the first defence of his European light-welterweight title against Italian warhorse Giuseppe Lauri.
Ireland, of course, has a rich boxing heritage. Native Irish and Irish-American boxers have always prided themselves on their inner strength and huge hearts. For years many went to the East coast of the United States to find their fame and fortune and they still do - Steve Collins, Wayne McCullough, John Duddy and Andy Lee have all experienced the 'American dream' of late. Boston and New York are favoured destinations.
Countless boxing legends are descended from the Irish including 'The Greatest'. Muhammad Ali's great-grandfather Abe Grady was born in the county town of Ennis! John L Sullivan was born in Massachusetts to Irish immigrant parents; Gene Tunney in New York to two Irish parents.
Jack 'Nonpareil' Dempsey became the first recognised middleweight champion after knocking out George Fulljames in the 22nd round. He was born in County Kildare, and his more famous namesake, Jack Dempsey - The Manassa Mauler' - had an Irish father.
We had Mickey 'Toy Bulldog' Walker, who apparently laced his water bottle with gin during a middleweight title fight, the tiny 4ft 11in Jimmy 'Babyface' McLarnin; there was Billy 'The Pittsburgh Kid' Conn, 'Terrible' Terry McGovern, Packey McFarland, and 'Sailor' Tom Sharkey. 'Irish' Micky Ward was one of my favourite modern fighters and that trilogy with the late, great Arturo Gatti will never be forgotten.
Mike McTigue was crowned world light-heavyweight champion on St.Patrick's Day, 1923, with a points win over Battling Siki; Johnny Caldwell was the Belfast boy who won the world Bantamweight title; while Charlie Nash lost to our own Jim Watt in a challenge for the WBC lightweight crown.
Freddie Gilroy won the British, Commonwealth and European bantamweight titles, and challenged for world honours; Dave McAuley made five defences of the IBF flyweight title. 'The Pocket Rocket' Wayne McCullough struck silver at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and travelled to Japan to win the WBC bantamweight crown.
Spooked
Steve Collins was the steely WBO middle and super-middleweight champion who beat both Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn twice. Bernard Dunne is Ireland's most recent world champion. Other top boxers like Eamonn Magee, Brian Magee, Neil Sinclair, Martin Rogan, and Martin Lindsay have also given the Irish great nights. Former Olympic bronze medallist Darren Sutherland was starting to as well - before the terrible tragedy of his suicide.
Sky have enjoyed super shows on the Emerald Isle. One of my first visits over was in March 1995, for the first battle between Chris Eubank and Collins.
A lovely little Irish entrepreneur called Noel C Duggan welcomed us to the quaint town of Millstreet in Cork. Location: A cowshed which had hosted the Eurovision Song contest, but had never seen anything quite like a major world title fight.
That was the night when Eubank was spooked by Collins, slapped by Ronnie Davies, and ended up losing his belt - and his unbeaten record. Collins charged upon Eubank from the opening bell of their rematch - which was in an open air football stadium in Cork. The result was 'Repeat' for the Celtic Warrior. I remember the wonderful Irish jigs and Guinness flowing out of the Cork bars; Freddie Roach - Collins' trainer - recalls something different:
"I walked into the stadium behind Steve and the fireworks, and the security turned me away! They thought I was some kid trying to blag my way in!" he would later recall.
"Do you think I carry a bucket and a towel for fun?" replied Freddie, who had to force his way to ringside!
Artist
So we've had the Collins-Eubank rivalries, there was a terrific night in Belfast with Eamonn Loughran; the Eamonn Magee-Shea Neary needle, and even that scandalous scoring in Andersonstown when Simone Maludrottu somehow got the nod over Damaen Kelly!
Mind you, the lovely Gerry Storey father-and-son team, the excellent statistician and commentator Bob Mee, leading MC John McDonald and I, had a rather lucky day on the horses! We'll never forget that late afternoon triumph on 'Calvic' in a rather local betting corner shop in Andersonstown!
Little Kelly followed many Irish fighters of old to light up the Ulster Hall which, in many ways, is like the York Hall of Irish boxing. Kelly followed in the flyweight footsteps of the great Rinty Monaghan who was the terrific world champion from Belfast, and became a cult hero in the post-war period.
Monaghan was a part-time cabaret artist who worked with Vera Lynn and George Formby. Rinty was crowned World flyweight king in front of a home-town crowd at the King's Hall in 1948.
The King's Hall was built in 1934 and sits on the Lisburn Road. It has become the boxing mecca in Belfast over the years. The capacity is set for 7,800 but a certain 'Clones Cyclone' used to have many more squeezed in; fans were literally hanging from the rafters.
Born Finbar Patrick, Barry McGuigan was a national hero of course. He attracted an enormous and loyal following in the mid 1980's - particularly at the King's Hall. A non-sectarian sporting ambassador, Barry would literally calm the violent feud between the Protestants and Catholics every time he fought during the troubles.
'Leave the fighting to McGuigan', it was often said.
With his father Pat singing 'Danny Boy', there was huge emotion every time Barry fought. He might have won his world featherweight title in West London (on a night that I'll never forget as a 13-year-old kid standing at the back of Loftus Road), but the King's Hall became his fortress. Barry fought there seven times including his world-title defence against Bernard Taylor.
Barry also won his European crown at the King's Hall against Valerio Nati in 1983, and this interesting fight between Paul McCloskey and another Italian in Giuseppe Lauri, is the first European match at the venue for the best part of three decades.
Craic
The Dungiven 30-year-old has won all 20 and is a neat boxer who gathers power from odd angles. Lauri has triumphed 50 times, but has come up short against the likes of Ricky Hatton and Junior Witter - and I think McCloskey will ultimately prove too classy. Lauri can be tough to shift, and McCloskey has had problems with his back, but the Irishman should be looking for a stoppage win in the mid-late rounds.
Memories will come flooding back for Barry McGuigan this week. He returns to the King's Hall now in his 'managerial' role - with his exciting protogee Carl Frampton on display. It's always a pleasure seeing my old colleague Barry and I can't wait to see the rest of the lovely Irish boxing folk like the Storeys, John Breen, Eamonn Magee and so on.
I have Irish blood in me - and I think the people are some of the friendliest and most hospitable you'll ever meet. Can't wait to be back for the craic!
Who has been YOUR favourite Irish fighter of all-time. Let Adam know by filling in the feedback form below... he may well have left some off!
