Adam Smith looks forward to Darren Sutherland's debut and renewing acquaintance with the Emerald Isle.
'Cracker in Ireland to round off 2008'
It's been some year - and next week's blog will take you through 12 fantastic months before looking ahead to what might happen in 2009.
First things first, though, and we have one more live show to tell you about before the festive break.
The Irish came to London when Martin Rogan and Paul McCloskey raided a week or so ago, but on Thursday night it will be our turn to go to Dublin for a real pre-Christmas cracker.
Headlining we have Rendall Munroe, the popular and amiable Leicester bin-man who defends his European super-bantamweight title for the third time against Italy's tough Fabrizio Trotta.
Rendall leapt from English to European level when he boxed beautifully to nullify feared Spanish puncher Kiko Martinez earlier this year, and there is no doubt that - in the level below world class - he is our domestic fighter of the year.
It's a great story as Rendall has consolidated his position in European class through 2008. Just an aside, but he was so delighted to be our guest at the British Boxing Writers' dinner.
Also featuring on Thursday's bill is a Commonwealth bantamweight title fight between our stalwart Jason 'Too Smooth' Booth and tough southpaw Sean Hughes.
But the main focus of the crammed-packed show will be on the eagerly-awaited professional debut of Irish Olympic bronze medallist Darren Sutherland.
Sutherland returns to the places of his studies - Dublin City University - for this culturally unique boxing event. He's talented, has bags of charisma and personality, and I haven't seen promoter Frank Maloney as excited since his days with Lennox Lewis.
Frank really believes Sutherland will have the perfect professional style, and Johnny Nelson, too, remembers him with fondness from a spell spent in his Sheffield Wincobank gym.
Time will tell, but he's certainly an exciting prospect, and I can't wait to go back to Ireland. Love the place, love the fans.
Don't forget this Ringside Special is on Thursday this week! And don't miss our New Year's Eve Knockouts of the Year show - there have been loads of eye-catching endings! Then we're back with Paul Truscott kicking off our Friday Fight Night series on January 16th. I, for one, can't wait to see 'Trussy' again!
Read Adam's blog next week to find out his fights and fighters of 2008 and his predictions for the year to come.
