Fitzgerald Predicts A Short Night For Long

Phil Sutcliffe and Don O’Leary offer the local fight fraternity another dose of boxing entertainment in the shape of a proposed seven bout card at Dublin’s National Stadium on Saturday 24^th October.

Since forming Dolphil Promotions, the team has organised several shows under the “Pro Box Live” label, and the nominal main event here sees two well known Irish fighters meet in an eagerly anticipated rematch.

 

Sutcliffe’s charge Anthony Fitzgerald and Paddy Hyland’s Robert Long went hammer and tongs over six intense rounds in the City West hotel in January. Referee Paul McCullagh awarded Long a 58-56 verdict and he has since improved to 4-0, while Ftzgerald has staggered slightly to 4-2. His second defeat came via knockout to an unheralded Latvian, in the O2 on Bernard Dunne’s world title winning night. He erased those ghosts with a win on last month’s O2 bill and showed technical improvements in his four round win.

 

“I’ll be a lot fitter and have a great deal more experience than the last time we fought and to be honest I don’t think he’ll pass four rounds with me now,” an excited Fitzgerald exclusively told Boxrec News.

 

“Conditioning and strength training is key at the moment and I’ve been doing things differently from last time [previous Long fight]; including plenty more roadwork. The main portion of training is finished now, I’m putting the finishing touches to my preparation and the weight is bang-on.”

 

Anthony did indeed look like a fighter who had got his KO woe out of the system; using a solid jab and a better defensive guard to pick holes in opponent Tadas Jonkus’ armoury for a 39-37 victory. Prior to that win, Fitzgerald stopped Bradford’s Peter Cannon in three rounds on the Eddie Hyland-Oisin Fagan card in Tallaght. Long also appeared on that card, recording a workmanlike win over Denis Sirjatovs – the very nature of the Irish domestic scene means these two will never be too far apart on a domestic show.

 

Fitzgerald continues, “My defence is improving all the time. I’m not looking for the knockout and I’m ready for eight rounds – can he last the pace? Who knows. The knockout would be a bonus though.

 

“My trainers have been telling me to keep my hands up and do as I’m told. My final prediction is that it won’t go past four rounds.”

 

Long meanwhile has been putting in the graft himself, across Dublin with Paddy Hyland. “I’ve been doing lots of pads, bags and skipping, plenty of fitness and strength work; I’m going to need the stamina for all eight rounds. Anthony will be the same as before, he’s a warrior, comes to fight and as tough as nails. It will be another battle for the whole eight rounds.

 

“I’ll approach this fight the same as every other, so if the KO is there then I’ll take it but I’ll not go out looking for an early finish. Four wins from four fights, I don’t think my career’s going too badly so far.”

 

Rob insists that despite the fact there are some good quality Irish fighters in and around the weight class, it simply depends on whether they perform on the night. Indeed, the likes of Sinclair, Lee, Moore and Duddy may seem like a bridge too far at the moment, but with more experience an Irish title is not beyond the realms of possibility for this novice pro.

 

“I’m making my way up the rankings at a nice pace,” he continues, “no rushing, we’re not flat out. There are no major goals set so we can take it one fight at a time and when I’ve had 10 or 11 bouts then it’s time to start talking titles.”

 

So can we expect a bold, fight ending prediction from the unbeaten man?

 

“I don’t make predictions,” Rob muses. “I just show up on the night, well prepared, and see what happens.”

 

Eddie Hyland also features on this show, taking on recent Kevin Mitchell victim Rudy Encarnacion (and not Mark Alexander as reported), with John Waldron, Willie Casey and Gavin Prunty scheduled.

 

Oisin Fagan keeps busy with London journeyman Johnny Greaves, while it is almost certain that Cuban Alexei Acosta will be taken off the listings. The Gary Hyde managed bantamweight is looking forward to a late November crack at a WBA splinter title, in Belfast (more on that to follow).

 

Dolphil Promotions are offering great value ticket prices for this show with ringside seating at a knockdown €50 and €20 the price for gallery seats. A two adult/two child family ticket costs €55. Contact Phil on 0879719193 or Dave on 0879121785 for more information.