walsh v haughian titel fight Date: Feb 8, 2009 5:38:13 AM PST Author: clay billy walsh lost welter weight titel in 3rd round to the younger stephen haughian,walsh showed his usual bravery,but some times you can be to brave and you have to be saved from yourself,and i think this is what top class referee EMILE TIEDT done with walsh,he had seen enough in 3rd round,at this point every body could see this fight was going one way,blood comeing from walshes ear and right eye swolen,thanks to tiedt walsh will wake up in his own bed and not a hospital bed,i hav to say well done to walsh you were a brave champ,but now there is a new champ and thats boxing and congratulations to him[ STEPHEN HAUGHIAN WELTER WEIGHT OF ALL IRELAND ].

Haughian Walsh report Date: Feb 8, 2009 8:40:51 AM PST Author: cormac Will be up on site later tonight Stephen Haghian emerged as the new welterweight champion of Ireland after a pulsating three round battle with Corkman Billy Walsh in Craigavon on Saturday night. Fighting in front of a passionate home crowd, Haughian weathered the anticipated early storm that saw the rugged champion push forward throwing powerful looking hooks to head and body. Despite the pressure, the 24-year-old appeared in constant control as he timed Walsh’s rushes to counter with a variety of clean straight shots and hooks. Boxing for a time with his back to the ropes, Haughian also displayed impressive defensive capabilities, as he covered up and countered impressively. By the midway point of the second round it was clear that the frightening pace at which the fight was being contested would be unsustainable. And given Haughian’s 12-year age advantage, one suspected that it would be he who would persevere. By the end of the round, claret had started flowing from the nose of the muscle-bound champion as Haughian began to impose himself in the centre of the ring. In a bid to slow the challenger down, Walsh turned body hunter in the third. Targeting the younger man’s ribs ultimately yielded a warning from referee Emile Tiedt, as more than a few shots slipped under the belt. Haughian (now 17-1) was beginning to dominate and a nasty looking cut to Walsh’s left ear prompted many in attendance calling for the bout to be stopped immediately. In spite of these pleas, the action continued and Haughian piled on the pressure. Eventually, at 2.22 of the third round Tiedt stepped in to end proceedings. Cue rapturous celebrations. Haughian now looks forward to a Celtic title shot against Scotsman Craig Dixon – more than likely as chief support on the undercard of Paul McCloskey’s first British light-welterweight title defence some time in March. -- On an action packed undercard Andrew Murray returned to the ring to extend his unbeaten ledger to 14-0 with a textbook performance of boxing vs Torquay based Iranian Ali Wyatt. The Cavan native returns to the ring on the undercard of Bernard Dunne’s WBA title fight with Ricardo Cordoba at the O2 on March 21. Promoter Brian Peters has promised a major announcement regarding Murray’s opponent in the next fortnight with the long-term plan being an assault on the European lightweight crown. Looking bigger and stronger than Wyatt, Murray took the centre of the ring and quickly found his timing and range. The boxing lesson continued as Murray went through the repertoire of skills that has convinced many insiders to regard him as Irish boxing’s next big thing. A nasty cut appeared on the bridge of Wyatt’s nose in the third (Murray said after the contest that he was unsure if the cut was caused by a punch or a clash of heads). Sensing an early stoppage, the John Breen trained stylist upped the pace and by 2.09 of the round referee David Irving stepped in to save Wyatt from any further punishment.

Haughian Walsh report pt 2 Date: Feb 8, 2009 8:42:59 AM PST Author: cormac The fight of the night was undoubtedly Kevin O’Hara’s war with Silence Saheed. Normally a super-featherweight, O’Hara came to the ring as a welterweight, and early on it looked as if the added weight would prove detrimental. A heavy right hand from the heavily-muscled Saheed sent the Belfastman to the canvas – but rather than cover up, the former Immaculata star came straight back. O’Hara’s left hooks were beginning to find their mark and more importantly steady the legs of Saheed. In the second, it appeared that it was only the ropes that were holding Saheed up as O’Hara trapped him in a corner. In the third the pace took its toll on Saheed. Dropped heavily, he returned to his feet only to face a swarming assault. The contest was quickly stopped. However, much to the bemusement of O’Hara and the crowd, Saheed attempted to start the fight again before realising that it was in fact over. O’Hara now promises a return to a more realistic weight, with former foe Eddie Hyland in his sights. -- After three years outside the ring Michael Kelly looked a different beast on his return against game Latvian Juris Ivanovs. Putting together slick and powerful combinations to both body and head, the former soldier showed the class that yielded National Senior and World Military titles in the amateurs. With aspirations of a slot on the undercard of Dunne-Cordoba, lightweight Kelly can target fights with the likes of Oisin Fagan and Andrew Murray.

cormac report Date: Feb 9, 2009 10:07:24 AM PST Author: clay good report go easy on the refs what we see out side the ring is not always the same as what they see imo it was a good call

walsh v haughian titel fight Date: Feb 9, 2009 8:49:53 PM PST Author: irisheyesny its the best fight i seen in ireland in a longtime .i think its time the lads come back home and fight more here .