New Irish promoter shows resilience to deliver his first card
Saturday 25th June 2011 at the Craigavon Leisure Centre, Armagh, Northern Ireland will be David Murphy’s inaugural show as a boxing promoter, and it has been a baptism of fire for the Portadown man.
Murphy’s headlining fighter, Irish welterweight champion Stephen Haughian was originally scheduled to face Jeff Thomas in an Irish title fight. But, unfortunately Thomas had to pull out of the fight (knee injury caused by a fall - Ed.) and Willie Thompson promptly stepped in as his replacement. However, at the end of last week it emerged that Thompson had picked up an injury and had to withdraw from the card.
Rookie promoter Murphy has shown plenty of resilience in delivering his first card.
“There has been a lot of chopping and changing and hard work that has went into it. It has been a total insight into what goes on and a lot of the fighting is done behind the scenes before the fighters get in the ring. It has been a learning experience, but it has been interesting.”
Murphy explained how he got involved in the boxing game. “I have been friendly with Stephen (Haughian) for a long time and followed him to a lot of his fights, so I am a boxing fan myself. I got involved just by talking to Stephen and then with John Breen and we took it from there. Stephen wants to have more fights, so we will take it one step at a time.”
Haughian is clear in what he want to achieve in 2011. “I would like have more fights at home and push for major titles by the end of the year”.
If Saturday night’s 'Brawl at Brownlow' show is a success, promoter Murphy confirmed that he would run more shows in the future. The late replacement for Haughian is resilient journeyman Arek Malek who has went the distance with top domestic names such as Lee McAllister, Nigel Wright, Carl Johanneson and Young Mutley. Irish fighter Gavin Prunty holds a points win over Malek and Haughian’s gym mate Neil Sinclair stopped Malek in four rounds in Cork in 2007.
The seven-fight Craigavon card features an intriguing match-up between heavy handed Tommy Tolan and former amateur star Eamonn O’Kane. O’Kane who won a Gold medal in the 2011 Commonwealth Games and holds a win over George Groves in the amateur ranks will make his professional bow on home soil after his winning pro debut on the Rees-Murray under card in Cardiff a few weeks ago.
Classy Belfast super flyweight Jamie Conlan will be looking to put on another good performance against veteran journeyman Delroy Spencer, as he targets a major domestic title shot later this year. Debutants Marc McCullough and Eddie Nesbitt face each other and Damian Taggart’s faces Giuseppe Daprato.
The 'Brawl at Brownlow' will take place on Saturday 25th June 2011 at the Craigavon Leisure Centre, Brownlow, Craigavon, County Armagh.
The full card is: Stephen Haughian (20-2-1) v Arek Malek (11-39-2) Eamonn O’Kane (1-0) v Tommy Tolan (4-4) Jamie Conlan (6-0) v Delroy Spencer (14-118-3) Damian Taggart (4-1) Giuseppe Daprato (1-0) Marc McCullough (debut) v Eddie Nesbitt (debut) Mark Ginley (1-0) v Robin Deakin (1-32) Bobby George (1-0) v Billy Walsh (5-1)
The weigh in will be held at The Rushmore Shopping Centre, Craigvon on Friday 24th June at 1pm. Doors open at 7pm on fight night and first bell is at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £30 and £50 (Ringside) and are available from Maurice Haughian 07521358328, on Ticketmaster or from any of the fighters.
