THE IRISH BOXING REVIEW
2012 EDITION
By Steve Wellings
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THE IRISH BOXING REVIEW
2012 EDITION
Steve Wellings
Copyright © 2012
All Rights Reserved.
Smashwords edition
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CONTENTS
The State of Play: Special Comments
Freeze Frame: The Boxing Photographers
Reporting the News: Irish Boxing Online
Brian Magee: ‘I want Lucian Bute’s shot at the Super Six winner – 7th January
‘Storm’ Sweeney banishes thoughts of 2010 – 10th January
Andy Lee-John Duddy scheduled for March meeting – 12th January
Oisin Fagan on the comeback trail – 19th January
Middleweight contender John Duddy quits the ring – 20th January
Fitzgerald and Murtagh primed for Dublin showdown – 25th January
Khan bout a non-starter for McCloskey – 27th January
Fitzgerald retains title after bloody maul with Murtagh – 31st January
Jamie Kavanagh: The latest fighting Irishman in America – 31st January
Ulster Elite Senior Championships Finals – 4th February
Fitzgerald’s career on the way up – 10th February
Eamonn Magee gives his take on Rogan split – 15th February
Paul McCloskey eyes pot of gold at the end of Khan rainbow – 21st February
Willie Casey primed for Rigondeaux challenge – 23rd February
Winky the Wright move for ambitious Macklin – 23rd February
JJ McDonagh bounces back – 24th February
Amir Khan not underestimating Paul McCloskey – 26th February
Irish Seniors report – 26th February
Murtagh wants another shot – 2nd March
“I’d fight Jason Booth tomorrow,” states Carl Frampton – 2nd March
Frampton-Chacin report – 6th March
Big Fight Preview: Casey ready to prove everyone wrong – 18th March
Dublin disappointment as Casey feels the ‘Big Bang’ from Rigondeaux – 20th March
Tims wins Irish crown and Fitzgerald is EBA king – 20th March
Introducing Mark Ginley – 23rd March
Introducing Joe Hillerby – 23rd March
Mark Morris preparing for professional debut – 23rd March
Brian Magee beaten but unbowed after Lucian Bute defeat – 23rd March
Casey ready to bounce back after Rigondeaux defeat – 23rd March
Rogie says no to Prizefighter tournament spot – 27th March
Earl show cancelled – 30th March
Cuban sensation ready to conquer the world after Casey mauling – 2nd April
Luke’s back on top at the Holiday Inn – 8th April
McCloskey and Khan finally set to do battle – 14th April
Murray motivated for Manchester matchup – 15th April
Khan’s gift is no consolation to McCloskey – 17th April
Paddy Hyland plans Dublin show in June – 23rd April
Cuban rebel rules International Prizefighter tournament – 7th May
Jamie Conlan discusses 2011 plans – 9th May
Stephen Haughian to defend Irish title in Craigavon – 14th May
O’Sullivan takes the Long route back – 25th May
Wilton gets Holiday Inn win and targets Britain’s best – 29th May
Murray and Rees set for Euro title battle in Cardiff – 3rd June
Mixed results for talented trio in Cardiff – 5th June
Post-fight reaction from Andy Murray and Carl Frampton in Cardiff – 5th June
First time lucky for classy Eamon O’Kane – 5th June
Sweeney spars Chad Dawson and targets Tims rematch – 10th June
IPBA ready to rock Galway in debut show – 12th June
IPBA forced to cancel Galway show – 17th June
Macklin discusses the past, present and future in Sturm teleconference – 21st June
Patrick Hyland headlines ‘Clash of the Capitals’ in Dublin – 23rd June
Craigavon Show Report: ‘Battle at Brownlow’ – 25th June
Macklin denied by Sturm in typically German outcome – 25th June
Hyland leads the way on packed Dublin card – 26th June
Haughian itching for McIntyre return – 27th June
O’Kane and Conlan wrack up Craigavon wins – 27th June
Mark Ginley pushing on after Deakin win – 28th June
Impressive Marc McCullough shows he is one for the future – 28th June
Magee heading to Panama City for final preparations – 8th July
McCloskey puts Khan in the past and focuses on Prescott challenge – 19th July
McCloskey: Judah is a potential banana skin for Khan – 19th July
Eddie Hearn keen on Frampton and Martinez bout – 19th July
Henry Coyle leads a strong supporting cast on Mayo show – 25th July 2011
Magee claims interim crown in Costa Rica after mastering Barboza – 30th July
Castlebar goes crazy for Coyle – 12th August 2011
Belfast Jackal primed to stun Spanish import – 15th August
Storey reckons Frampton can be his first professional European champion – 15th August
Fury headlines ‘The Only Show in Town’ but Rogan is not the opponent – 24th August
Haughian and Witter in crossroads battle – 24th August
Tolan views Townley as a stepping stone to titles – 24th August
Thompson glad to be home and ready to rumble with Ryan Greene – 24th August
Frampton’s Euro dream put on hold as Martinez withdraws – 29th August
The search continues: Casey-Frampton a non-starter – 30th August
Hillerby now meets Tolan on Fury’s King’s Hall debut show – 1st September
Fighting frustration: Dean’s Byre-ing ambitions – 2nd September
Michael Sweeney becomes an ‘Assassin’ – 6th September
Rogan is back and he’s bringing the WBU title with him! – 6th September
Checa-mate: Rogan’s found his match – 6th September
Lindsay’s back on the title trail…but he’s getting married first – 10th September
McCloskey moves closer to world title dream after gutsy win over Prescott – 10th September
Eamon high: O’Kane on a title fast track – 12th September
Tyson ready to unleash the Fury on Firtha in Belfast debut – 15th September
Irish boxing: The sanctioning bodies’ latest battleground – 16th September
McCloskey goes to the well in world title eliminator – 16th September
Rogan’s WBU title fight will not be sanctioned by the BBBofC – 16th September
Fury survives rocky round to stop brave American Firtha – 18th September
Fury survives Firtha scare and remains open to Klitschko challenge – 21st September
Kodjo KO’d: Casey brings the ‘Big Bang’ to Belfast – 23rd September
Dee Walsh impresses with winning start in Belfast – 28th September
Rogan arranges rematch clash with old foe Skelton – 17th October
Skelton fancies a crack at Tyson Fury – 18th October
Rogan fires WBU broadside: Clonard battler unhappy at Brit Board snub – 18th October
King Size: Rogan’s promoters are aiming big – 21st October
Magee aiming for Danish showdown but no Christmas date for Lindsay – 4th November
BoxNation to televise Irish extravaganza.....in Liverpool – 22nd November
‘Disgusted’ Brabazon quits the amateurs to chase pro dream – 22nd November
‘Nordic Nightmare’ views Chisora as his toughest challenge to date – 29th November
Irish Boxing News Round-Up – December 2011
How they saw it...an end of year summary by those in the know
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Author’s Introduction
Hello and a very warm welcome to the second Irish Boxing Review. The 2011 edition received great coverage and an overwhelmingly positive response from the fight fraternity, both in Ireland and beyond, and this latest version aims to build on that encouraging start. Last season’s domestic scene contained the usual mix of highs and lows, excitement and tedium, plus plenty of surprises.
It really has been a year of near misses. There was a worrying amount of proposed shows that either ended up cancelled, postponed or just failed to materialise and hopefully this is just a blip rather than a growing trend. Some have gone so far as to suggest that the recent boom period is well and truly over and that future shows will be few and far between. In this age of austerity, with constant talk of recessions and double dips, any card running without the financial boost provided by TV will have an almighty struggle to break even. Writer and broadcaster Cormac Campbell has seen plenty of comings and goings throughout his time covering the Irish boxing scene. Alongside journalist Kevin Byrne, Cormac offers a radical proposal to solve the current issues in a ‘Special Comments’ piece below.
So just what else can you expect from this year’s Irish Boxing Review book? Well, in this edition we revisit the Irish Boxing Awards which is swiftly moving into its fourth year and still offering deserved recognition to the worthy achievers that collect the cut glass trophies on offer for outstanding achievement. We also meet the matchmakers entrusted with the unenviable task of putting together a fight card; delve into the minds of the creative talents behind those boxing photographs and quality images that regularly appear online and in magazines; plus we take a brief look at the growing influence of the intriguing World Series of Boxing tournament. After catching up with the Irish boxing fraternity online we finish by hearing from some of the better known boxing personalities who write, chat and debate the noble art on a regular basis. We later peruse a selection of concise reviews of the year including all of the results that mattered from the world of boxing. Sandwiched in between is the timeline of events, a selection of previews, reviews and fight articles that guide you step-by-step through all of the big talking points.
Even if it does feel a little bit like the heady days of Irish professional boxing are slowing down and about to hit a quiet spell, I believe that we have been riding on the crest of a wave. During this time there were more registered professional boxers than ever before, a record number of shows (both big and small) across the island, exciting success at amateur level and a sustained phase of unparalleled entertainment. Even if the boom is over, it was certainly fun while it lasted.
I hope you’ve savoured it as much as I have. Enjoy the book.
Best wishes, Steve Wellings.
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The State of Play: Special Comments
Two of the domestic scenes’ most respected scribes give their views on the current state of Irish boxing.
Cormac Campbell
When I relaunched Irish-boxing.com at the start of 2008 one of the first articles I wrote highlighted concerns that the stuttering Irish economy could ultimately swallow up what was a fledgling industry. It wasn’t a question of talent, or enthusiasm – just economics and all the signs were there that we were in meltdown.
As such, it was argued that all factions of the Irish boxing industry needed to be organised, flexible and be prepared to sing from the same hymn sheet to get the best deal rather than pursuing self-interest which would only bring minor benefit in the short term.
In truth, it really took until 2011 for the economic squeeze to really hit professional boxing in Ireland and whilst the sport is not knocked out yet, it has certainly been teetering on the ropes these last few months.
We are seeing fewer and fewer bills of significance taking place on the island, the near disappearance of the country’s premier promoter Brian Peters and the withdrawal of state broadcaster RTE from the scene.
We are also seeing our best fighters, like many of our best young people, having to jump on a plane for work – with Andy Lee and Matthew Macklin not fighting in Ireland in 2011. Granted they may have bigger fish to fry, but in the past they were able to fry some of that fish in Limerick or Dublin.
The withdrawal of state broadcaster RTE from the sport was incredibly disappointing – but no less inevitable – and the way it was addressed by some in the build-up to Willie Casey’s clash with Guillermo Rigondeaux was self-destructive and quite frankly embarrassing.
This was a time for cool heads. Instead we had many people who should have known better shouting the odds, effectively trying to bully the network into stumping up cash it hadn’t budgeted for. RTE did eventually show the fight after a considerable financial contribution from a leading businessman – something which perhaps set an unsavoury precedent for any other promoter hoping to do business in the coming years. After all, if RTE have to be paid to show a World Title fight, what are the chances of them investing any money in non-title, Irish or European bills?
So where now? There is little doubt that television coverage is essential to the future of the sport in Ireland. And that is why we need some brave new thinking on the matter. To budget, schedule and promote, television requires regularity. It needs to know that on the second Saturday of every month it will have two hours of boxing – come rain, hail or shine.
It is for this reason that I believe the best chance of boxing getting back on the box lies not with individual promoters, but with the National governing bodies – both amateur and professional. For me, the best way forward lies with the BUI, BBBofC (NI) and the IABA coming together to work out a proposal that would suit all of their needs and then taking it to the Networks.
By doing so they can provide TV with regularity, value for money and quality control whilst delivering TV dates and an assured income for worthy promoters. They can formalise dates months in advance, deliver the highlights package that will develop stars of the future and use their collective mass to bring in major sponsors.
The alternative is to do nothing and keep your fingers crossed. Which would you prefer?
Kevin Byrne
Irish boxing ends the calendar year in a strange funk, and only the actions of its supporters can get the sport out of it. By supporters I mean everyone involved in the game here: The fighters, management, their promoters and crucially, the paying public. I don’t mean to criticise promoters as it’s a rough business as any of them will tell you, and you rarely hear of many of them getting fat off of it. But Ireland, north and south, saw how many shows this year? Eight in all, and no one working together. It was all over the place, feast or famine stuff.
The sport of boxing needs some joined-up thinking because the rare shows that were held this year were not only bumping into each other, they were clashing with Ireland’s amateur team as well. Two of those seven events took place on June 25, the same night Matthew Macklin was fighting for the world title in Germany. Where did the newspaper attention go that week? I know from talking to fellow hacks there was much frustration about not being able to give Patrick Hyland’s Dublin bill the attention it deserved in print, and as for David Murphy’s show in Craigavon, I am sorry to say I saw very little coverage at all to encourage spectators (without having seen the coverage from our northern brothers, that is).
Even then, Macklin, Hyland, Haughian and Co were vying for national attention with Joe Ward, Ray Moylette and the rest of our amateur side, with the two lads mentioned winning gold at the European Championships only a day before. I attended the Dublin card and was dismayed. In a year Ireland had had three world title challengers at that point, I could see little or no knock-on effect. A genuinely entertaining card failed to bring out the punters with the Stadium taking in about 1,600. Two months later, the Castlebar card featuring Henry Coyle and Pajo Hyland clashed directly with action from the National Stadium as our top amateurs scrapped it out (unfortunately as it worked out, the joke was on them) for a place on the World Championships team.
Belfast, starved all year, then hosted two shows inside a week in September. It was crazy.
But all the same, the reaction to Matchroom’s show, and Castlebar, and even Willie Casey vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux, proves the people are out there. The current situation is impacting on the fighters financially as they try to make a living. That’s the reality we don’t see, but the shame for fans is the realisation that there is a lot of talent going to waste at the moment. What this year did prove is that Irish fighters, both professional and amateur, are more than equipped to take their place among the world’s elite. As if we didn’t know already.
The pro game needs a break-out star a la Rory McIlroy – only Carl Frampton looks capable as of now – but the Olympic Games will hopefully give the sport another much-needed boost. I just hope that, as Michael Conlan and Katie Taylor gear up for Olympic finals and gold-medal matches, some promoter hasn’t decided the time is right to stage a show down in Dungarvan.
Kev’s Quote of the Year: “Unfortunately I got knocked the f*** out but it happens and you just get on with it.” – Willie Casey after the Rigondeaux annihilation.
Kev’s One to Watch: Dee Walsh, Belfast. The 21-year-old looked polished on his debut in September in his hometown. Hopefully can see some action on cards in this country over 2012 to grow into the fighter his handlers Gary Hyde and Tony Dunlop believe he can become.
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Irish Boxing Awards
The annual Irish boxing awards took place in February 2011 and underlined the success of Dublin’s Crumlin Boxing Club. Super-bantamweight hotshot Willie Casey, who faces Guillermo Rigondeaux on March 19, claimed the coveted Boxer of the Year trophy with team-mate Anthony Fitzgerald named as Irish Champion of the Year. Head trainer Phil Sutcliffe took Coach of the Year and former Crumlin amateur standout Jamie Kavanagh, currently plying his trade as a pro in the US, snared the Prospect of the Year crown.
The event was fittingly held in Dublin for the first time since its inception and various members of the Irish boxing fraternity were in attendance to celebrate DolPhil Promotions’ successful 2010. That year saw Limerick’s Willie Casey steamroll his way into the limelight with some show-stopping displays of heart and determination that culminated in the 29-year-old claiming the European title in front of his home faithful, last November.
“I’m delighted to be awarded for my achievements over the past year,” stated ‘Big Bang’ after event co-ordinator Cormac Campbell presented him with the cut-glass trophy.
“Hopefully we can pick it up again next time. For the young lads out there, who train and put the effort in all the time, to see me win an award will have them put even more time in and want a piece of the glory. 2010 was a fantastic year for me. Going over to Canada and beating the Canadian champion [Tyson Cave], winning Prizefighter too – there are not many out there who can beat three men in one night! Then we won the European title and hopefully now we can win the WBA [interim] title and even make some defences. Of course, we’ll just worry about getting it first though.”
Casey capped off his remarkable year with a European title win over Hyland
© Kevin Finn
Phil Sutcliffe accepted the Coach of the Year gong by paying tribute to the entire DolPhil team, especially his group of coaches who work tirelessly with every fighter that enters through the gym doors.
“It’s really a teamwork event for DolPhil because I have my own team of coaches who all work off the same syllabus and it’s their hard work and dedication that helped me win this award. Everything seems to be going well in the DolPhil camp at present.
“Being Coach of the Year is nice in the professional game and let’s hope I get Coach of the Year in the amateurs and we bring in a few titles in that too,” Phil added.
2010 saw Anthony Fitzgerald finally put the pain of two early-career losses behind him and claim the Irish super-middleweight belt. Fitzgerald was named Irish Champion of the Year having made two successful defences of his crown in 2010 and the native Dubliner could also lay claim to being the most improved boxer across Ireland.
“I’m delighted with the award and it’s great for Willie and Phil as well, having three winners out of the same gym,” said Fitz. “The Crumlin Club will keep getting bigger and bigger all the time. We have the most pro boxers at the moment [in Ireland] and it’s just getting stronger. At the start of my career I wasn’t putting in the training. Getting knocked out in front of 9,000 people, just two minutes away from my house, was a big shock. I had to either quit boxing or pick it up. I picked it up and here I am now.”
“Anthony Fitzgerald is coming on leaps and bounds,” agreed Sutcliffe. “Everyone knows that we called out Andy Lee but we would have liked to have got hold of John Duddy first as I felt that the clash of styles meant a better contest for Anthony. We will take the necessary chances for each fighter we take on and work on their technique as we move forward.”
The final recipient, Jamie Kavanagh, was unable to attend so family member, and club coach, Patrick Brady accepted the award on his behalf. Jamie did send a message however.
“It’s a great feeling to be getting the Prospect of the Year award from Ireland, my country,” said the man trained in Los Angeles by Freddie Roach. “I didn’t even know if I would be nominated because I’m all the way over here in America so I’m glad they picked me.”
The 20-year-old is currently 4-0 as a professional and follows in the footsteps of previous winners Martin Lindsay and Carl Frampton.
“I know Carl Frampton won it,” Kavanagh added. “I boxed in the amateurs with him and he’s doing well and picked up a belt last year. Who knows, I might fight for one myself this year but there’s no rush.”
Organiser Cormac Campbell summed up the awards ceremony by saying that, “this year’s awards have been voted for by a wide range of boxing writers and broadcasters, something that reflects the growth of the sport in recent times.”
“It has been another great year for the sport here with European title successes for Willie Casey, Matthew Macklin, Paul McCloskey and Brian Magee. In 2011 we are hopeful that a number of these boxers can press on and win world titles.
“Behind them are a dozen or so other contenders and prospects who will ensure that boxing’s resurgence in Ireland into a major mainstream sport will continue in the coming years,” concluded Campbell.
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Freeze Frame: The Boxing Photographers
Having tried to take a few photos at sparring sessions or ringside at amateur shows, I can safely say that boxing photography is something that should be left to the experts. Muddling through an overstocked kit bag and trying to discern whether an f1.8 portrait lens or a standard multi-use lens is best for the shot in question, apparently all gets easier with experience. With combinations flying thick and fast and plenty going on inside and outside of the ring, there is often only a split second available to make any decision. Having tried, and mostly failed, to make any headway into confining my own little slice of the local boxing scene I reserve my utmost admiration for those who are not only able to capture the money punch or the moment of impact, but do it within the general constraints of photography – good lighting, correct exposure, rule of thirds, everybody in the frame and in focus.
Dublin photographer Sharon Flanagan made the move from point-and-shoot to DSLR three years ago and brushed up on her skills while taking photos at her husband’s rugby matches. Flanagan’s work soon got noticed and more offers rolled in, before a meeting with Irish boxing journalist, and rugby enthusiast, Jonny Stapleton persuaded Sharon to switch sports and try her luck at ringside.
“To be honest with you I said no at first as I wasn’t interested in boxing and wouldn’t even watch it on the telly but after a while of Jonny pestering me I decided to give it a go,” she recalls. “To say I was dumped in at the deep end, head first, was a bit of an understatement. My first night of shooting was the Willie Casey fight last March in City West. I was a bit overwhelmed to start with but once a couple of bouts had got underway and I had got my bearings I really got into it. I will never forget that first night, I came out of City West with the adrenaline seriously pumping and then the tables turned and I was the one pestering Jonny, asking when the next fight would be! Unfortunately, with family commitments I don’t get to travel to Belfast or to other European destinations for the fights.”
Flanagan was also present at the National Stadium show where all three Hyland brothers plied their trade in late June. She enjoyed the smaller hall venue and electric atmosphere that such a setting generates.
“Unfortunately you never know what is going to happen on a night and the fight could literally only last seconds. Every event is another experience and the more experience I can get the more I can learn. It’s about getting out there and meeting other people in the photography world and talking about camera stuff, with exposure to boxing clubs, promoters and the press and getting myself known for my work.”
I can certainly concur with Sharon when she says that plenty of practice is needed to get the right shot. Also, turning away at an inopportune moment can mean missing the most important move of the night. She was ringside for Anthony Fitzgerald’s middleweight fight with erratic Frenchman Affif Belghecham. The away man infamously lost his temper after being stopped and decided to attack everybody within striking distance.
“Being a newbie to the whole boxing scene I was not only amused but also surprised to the reaction of Affif Belghecham,” she laughs. “Belghecham decided that he had already found his next opponent and went for the referee, both verbally and physically, and two officials had to jump in to guard the ref. Not quite what I was expecting on my first night covering boxing.”
Affif Belghecham loses his cool
© Sharon Flanagan
“I would say get your hands on the fastest lens you can afford or borrow,” she adds, when discussing the technical aspects. “An f2.8 really is necessary for the fights as the lighting tends not be the best unless you are lucky enough to be covering a fight that is being televised and then the lighting is great. You will usually need to bump up the ISO and don’t worry about a grainy picture as a grainy picture is better than a blurry picture.”
Grainy pictures and blurry boxing gloves are hazards of the job. Using flash is often frowned upon when the big shows come to town but a flashgun often serves to perfectly freeze the action.
Photographer Simon Pollock reckons that, “Flash is widely accepted as the norm in boxing, so you can use it to light your shots, and if you’re after that frozen, high powered punch moment, you’re going to need to either step your ISO/film speed right up, or you’re going to need to introduce flash. If you do decide to use flash, get yourself a sturdy L bracket and take that flash off your camera.”
While working at a television company in London, Pollock started a side project documenting up-and-coming boxers around the UK. He went along to ‘assist’ matters and took the opportunity to take photos of the aspiring pugilists training and fighting, trying to make headway in their chosen sport.
“The first fight I photographed was George Groves at York Hall,” Simon remembers. “George is a Hammersmith lad and that’s where we were based – we met him a number of times and it all started there. My most enjoyable shoot was my first show at York Hall. I approach boxing photography from a more ‘artistic’ perspective, rather than your regular journalistic angle. I don’t use flash which you see so very often at ringside, I try to be a bit more discreet and try to capture emotion in my work. Some of the other ‘best times’ were with George, training at the Hayemaker gym in London. George is a great bloke, very polite and fun to be around – it’s amazing to see someone turn into a hyper-focused machine in the ring after you’ve been laughing and joking in the gym.
George Groves inside the Hayemaker camp
© Simon Pollock
“I see no cons of photographing boxing, yet, although access is hard sometimes depending on which promoters are at the event, you’ve got to try, try and try again! Start slowly and work your way into it. Generally it’s under or around bottom rope level during a bout, so if like me you’re 6’3” and you have to bend over for three minutes, it can hurt. People are put in the most amazing position when they’re fighting to win though, and I’m talking about the boxers, not me! So the pros are that you get to capture some amazingly intense moments.”
Pollock offers his advice to the novice snapper: “Keep your eyes open, look around when you’re between rounds, capture crowd reactions, capture things that people don’t get to see. I’ve seen a photographer hit on the head with a mouth guard once, that drew a chuckle from the other photographers, myself included. I’ve had a boxer fall against the ropes and come very close to knocking me over – you’re right in the action but make sure you don’t become part of it accidentally!”
Simon’s insider access to the Hayemaker camp would make him the envy of many peers looking to get some juicy pics of the former world heavyweight champion and his team. British and Commonwealth king George Groves may have since left the set-up but he was very much the focus when Pollock started his side project.
“I think one of the funnier moments was when we were filming Adam Booth, David Haye’s manager, in their gym in London. We were standing around Adam’s desk, he was sitting talking into the camera when David walked in and accidentally shoulder barged my producer/director, Dave, who nearly went hurtling over the desk (he’s only little) and David didn’t even notice. I tried not to laugh, honest...”
Eccentric Dubliner Aidan Walsh is a familiar face often seen patrolling around boxing arenas in Ireland with his golden boots and flamboyant outfits. Another maverick, with his own distinctively artistic brand of photography, is Limerick’s Jurgen Foley. Jurgen started his photographic journey during a worldwide trip in 2004-2005. He enrolled in college upon his return and has never looked back.
“I had to complete a project in college and I was always interested in the life of boxers, the discipline they have and all the hard work they put in, so I based one of my projects in college on Willie Casey,” says Foley. “I got nominated for a student sports competition and from that I got to go to the Andy Lee fight, so I just had a few lucky breaks.”
Foley was on hand last November to capture Casey’s superb European title winning effort over Paul Hyland. He draws comparisons between the noble art and the art of capturing the participants in brutal combat.
“Photography, like boxing, is a tough game in itself. If you work freelance it’s very hard; if you work for a magazine it’s difficult to do something different every time as they might not publish it. A lot of the time they’re looking for the same old, same old. The benefits are that you can have the best seats in the house at a boxing match, free food afterwards and you might be seen on TV too [he laughs]. Best of all, hopefully, we get the work in some papers and magazines as well – that’s the sweetest.”
Andy Lee vs. Alejandro Gustavo Falliga in Limerick
© Jurgen Foley
Similar to the long running scoring system debate in amateur boxing, the issue of flash is a fairly contentious subject in boxing photography.
“I would say don’t use flash; it’s a very bad idea,” Foley weighs in. “Other photographers will be angry as you might mess up their shots with your flash going off. Try to have some ideas before going to the fight, in what you want to capture or a particular style. Don’t be afraid to try something new, try different lenses, angles, shutter speeds and apertures. Also, ask other photographers questions as they can be very helpful. I still have lots and lots to learn myself.”
Esteemed fight photographer Chris Royle picked up his first DSLR camera (a canon 300d no less) a few days before his first card back in April 2005.
“I had no idea what I was doing as I only used a point and shoot before that,” Royle reveals. “I shot the boxing card in Automatic mode and the results were poor. Six years down the road I shoot everything in Manual mode.”
Royle’s snaps are now seen adorning newspapers and magazines on a regular basis and his ‘greatest hits’ collection of boxing shots makes for an impressive slideshow.
“There are a few shows that stand out,” agrees Chris. “Jamie Moore’s fights with Michael Jones (in this case, the third of their outstanding trilogy), Matthew Macklin and Ryan Rhodes, as all three fights were classic British wars. Also, Tyson Fury’s first fight with John McDermott. I got one of my favourite images from this fight, where referee Terry O’Connor raised Tyson Fury’s hand and Frank Maloney was pictured showing his anger towards the verdict. David Haye’s heavyweight fight with Nicolay Valuev was my first commission job, shooting the fight for Golden Boy Promotions.”
Frank Maloney is outraged as Fury outpoints McDermott
© Chris Royle
Chris also branches out into providing football (soccer) coverage to local newspapers (in the Dorset area) and believes that any budding freelancers will find it hard to make any money from photo sales, and commission jobs are few and far between. So just how will an aspiring freelancer capture that special shot?
“Shoot tight from the hip up, legs are not really needed in a shot apart from when there is a knockdown,” he says. “I find it’s best to time your shots instead of holding the shutter button down. The photo that will stand out from the rest is the glove landing on the opponent face and that is the hardest shot to get. If there is a cut on a fighter get a picture of that, often cuts can lead to the fight being stopped and it’s a good way to tell the story.
“You need to get a 24-70mm lens when shooting boxing from ringside, most of your work will be done with this lens. A 70-200 lens is good to get close-ups of face shots when they are in the corner or on the way to the ring. You need to shoot with a fairly high ISO in boxing; I often shoot at 1600-2000 ISO. Shutter speed depends on the light so often I shoot at 640/800 shutter and an aperture of 3.5. If you’re not sending your photos live or straight after the fight you can shoot in RAW mode and edit your photos at home.”
Plenty of practical insight there and should we also be prepared to attach a high powered flash bulb on to the camera to freeze those all important moments?
“TV fights don’t require a flash, often at small hall shows where the light is bad you will need to flash. You need to mount your flash next to your camera, as placing it on top will only bounce the flash off the ropes not hitting your target.
“Always back up your photos as well; don’t rely on hard drives/DVDs to store them on. The best place to back them up is either to use an online storage site or to email the photos to you. I have lost a hand full of cards which were stored on hard drives that failed.”
One bad habit I have always fallen prey to is checking through my photographs while the action is still flowing. Admittedly it is usually sparring or a low key bout but the urge to check the last one and keep or discard mid-fight is too strong to resist!
“Don’t look through your photos while the fight is taking place (chimping) unless you’re sending live,” warns Royle. “Often you could miss a key moment in the fight while you’re trying to see if you’ve got a good shot.”
Our final contributor is Sligo snapper Kevin Finn. The man responsible for the consistent output of quality visual art over at Boxing-ireland.com. Kevin’s passing interest in photography quickly tied itself in with other hobbies and interests, from training to family events.
“For me, boxing photography is the perfect marriage of two hobbies,” says Finn. “I’m blessed because the access I have is all down to Boxing-Ireland.com editor and fellow Sligoman Leonard Gunning. In my time as photographer I’ve covered everything from small hall shows to world title fights, visited several clubs in the UK and Ireland.”
Finn views the Guillermo Rigondaeux-Willie Casey show as his standout boxing moment thus far. This was mainly down to the fact that as part of his first world title gig, Kevin was fortunate enough to spend the weekend with Team Rigo thanks to efforts of Irish boxing celebrity Paddy Cronan.
“Despite my access to arguably the greatest boxer to grace the Olympic podium I was still firmly behind Team Casey,” Finn divulges. “In fact I had my Casey t-shirt on underneath a short sleeved black shirt which I proudly wore about the place! On fight night I was walking into the Red Cow hotel, shirt open, an image of Casey holding the severed head of Rigo in full view when I saw a mean, moody Cuban looking back at me from a couch inside the foyer. Needless to say I swiftly made a 180 degree turn and buttoned up my shirt before Rigo saw it!”
Kevin believes that a ringside spot at any boxing show equates to being in the perfect place at the perfect time and finds it near impossible to be in better company.
“Unfortunately, the lighting is so unpredictable while rope and tapes often get in the way,” he adds. “You only have one chance to land that picture perfect punch. Which to be honest is what makes it fun.
“The lighting will have a major impact on what setting you use so it’s hard to give a one size fits all answer. However you will need a high shutter speed. I like 1/500th of a second and anything more than that I feel is gravy. Flash is generally a no-no at ringside and you will find shooting boxing demands a lot from your camera and you will often have an aperture of f/2.8 and an ISO higher than you would normally use. If a major TV network is there then you can often decrease the ISO to get cleaner images or increase the aperture which results in sharper more detailed photos.
Finn also reckons that it is a common misconception to assume that the equipment needed is overly expensive.
“It is by no means cheap but many of my published shots have been taken using a second hand canon DSLR and 50mm lens, both of which can be purchased on eBay for less than 200 euro,” he elaborates. “As for being ringside just remember that you are a lot less important than the fighters, trainers, officials and fans that make boxing what it is. Be courteous and respectful to all those around you as you are working hard to get the shot you want.”
Kevin has actually been involved in the boxing scene for years, helping out in an amateur club in Sligo as a fitness trainer and “borrowing” old fight tapes off his cousin Eamon Coyne from a young age
“To be in closed door sparring sessions, and in the thick of the Irish boxing scene which I love so much is surreal. I’d also like to say how much I appreciate the position I am in.”
Countless photographic records of the fight game adorn the shelves of book stores and it is easy to see why. Boxing creates fantastic drama that can often stand unparalleled among its sporting peers. The likes of Ken Regan, Adam Powley, Jules Allen and James Fox, to name but a few, are all well worth a detailed inspection.
So, the next time you marvel at that ‘money shot’ in the paper, the super snap where one fighter hits the canvas or takes a blinding shot bang on the chin, it will be easier to appreciate the skill and techniques involved in capturing such a quality image.
~
Meet the Matchmaker
Two boxers meet head-to-head in centre ring, neither let up or give an inch, it’s a rollercoaster of punching for 12 non-stop rounds. The crowd go wild, both men reel away exhausted and all manner of plaudits are offered to each combatant; in years gone by, coins of appreciation or ‘nobbins’ are thrown in over the ropes. Whose idea was it to match these two guys? Which individual worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure that such a well-matched fight took place and everybody went home happy? Meet the matchmaker.
According to this concise description given by the BoxRec Boxing Encyclopedia, a matchmaker is, “…the person in charge of arranging bouts between boxers. He often works under the supervision of a particular venue’s promoter. Sometimes the promoter alone handles the matchmaking duties. The matchmaker looks over candidates’ fight records and tries to match opponents evenly. His job is to create interesting contests that will ‘give the crowd a thrill.’”
According to Charles Jay, a former matchmaker in America, matchmaking is the hardest job in boxing. Matchmakers are the unsung, underappreciated, boxing nuts with an intensely deep knowledge of the sport who act as the paste that binds all manner of events, no matter how big or small, together.
Jerry Hoffman is another who has made it his business to match boxers evenly and organise good value local shows for a number of years. Hoffman has worked with hundreds of fighters and managers over the years and an esteemed list of fighters have starred on his shows. Names like ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley, Stevie Johnston, James Page, Robert Guerrero, Nonito Donaire and Carina Moreno are all pugilists that became recognised world champions later in their careers.
“I have never co-promoted with another promoter,” says Jerry. “As for fighters who have fought on my shows, the list is too long to list other fighters, but anybody who has fought in Monterey and Santa Cruz since 1992 have dealt with me directly. I’ve primarily dealt with trainers who represent fighters, since my strategy was to feature prospects early in their careers, before they needed managers for the most part. My shows always sold out, but venues were between 1200-1500 so they were club shows without TV.”
As he puts it, Jerry learned the business on the fly. He hosted a Sportstalk radio show throughout the 1980s and interviewed many boxing people along the way. Years of ring announcing experience connected him with those in the sport of boxing over many years and he came to know who to work with and which folks to stay away from.
“I was blow-by-blow radio announcer in the early ‘70s for all of ‘Schoolboy’ Bobby Chacon’s fights when we both attended California State University at Northridge. Then in the 1980s I was ring announcer for dozens of boxing and muay thai shows in Northern California and learned the business aspect through that involvement. In the early ‘90s I created the ‘Shakedown in Quaketown’ boxing shows in Santa Cruz serving as promoter and matchmaker.”
As many in the fight business would testify, Hoffman believes that problems are endless for matchmakers and there are numerous barriers preventing a matchmaker from doing his job. Usually, difficulties with the fighters themselves could be the main problem, but for Jerry, a member of the boxing establishment was the main cause of his irritation.
“At the end of my 15-year run, the former executive director of the California State Athletic Commission Armando Garcia was my greatest problem, as he screwed with my final six shows during his three-year tenure until finally being fired,” Jerry sighs.
“Of course, the reliability of fighters showing up on time and at the contracted weight was always the major concern. When dealing with trainers, some misrepresented their fighters at times. Trying to make matches for local fighters who thought their value was beyond what they were bringing to the ring and finding competitive, yet approvable, opponents.”
Now busy running 12sportsonline.com Hoffman remains contented with his successful run in the boxing game.
“I really enjoyed the experience, most of the people and made a decent living promoting boxing. When the economy went ‘south’, coupled with Garcia’s constant interference (whose antics included pulling fights already approved without cause, disputing blood tests, deciding certain fighters were either too green or over the hill without considering who I matched them with and other power plays). The fun went out of it for me and by eliminated matches I advertised at the last minute, he intentionally damaged my reputation. I never had a single issue with California until he arrived from Florida.”
Hoffman sat at ringside for many enthralling encounters and marveled at the fighters he had matched, going toe-to-toe on his shows. Which match-made leaves him with the long lasting feeling of a job well done?
“To select one is difficult,” he muses, “but I’d have to say matching two future world champions in Stevie Johnston and James Page. At that point neither could find a fight and Johnston was a lightweight and Page a welterweight. My timing was perfect in convincing each to fight in the compromise light-welterweight division. The smaller Johnston won a spectacular eight round decision. Both fighters only had about 10 fights at the time.”
A far cry from the glitter and glamour of the Santa Cruz scene – in a buzzing, cramped east Belfast gym – BBBofC matchmaker Gareth Thompson is busy plotting his next move. Working alongside Team Alio, Belfast Promotions and the Wilton clan, Thompson is an integral part of the Northern Irish boxing circuit. Talk about learning on the job, Gareth worked his way into boxing and soon found himself very much involved in the scene. And all without attending a BBBofC-approved course.
“Unfortunately there isn’t one,” laughs Thompson. “I did ask at the Belfast AGM about this and was told the BBBofC might be able to hold a matchmakers’ forum in the future for us all to attend and discuss issues. I doubt this will ever happen though as matchmakers mostly seem to keep their contacts and resources close to their chests.”
Gareth has been a boxing fan since childhood, growing up on Saturday night ITV extravaganzas, coming home and watching the fights with his father.
He picks up the story, “about 10 years ago the wife and I decided that boxing might be good for the wee lad and took him along to Ledley Hall. We trained together for five years with Sam Wilton. At that point football was taking priority in the Ledley Hall and boxing/training there was becoming difficult. Sam suggested that we all moved round the corner to his brother’s (Alan Wilton’s) gym, the Eastside ABC. My son and I had been in Alio’s gym a few times before and been to a few of his amateur shows. My wee lad won an exhibition bout and decided to quit boxing but I decided to stay at Eastside and train myself; purely for fitness. I started to gel with the boxers and coaches and felt at home. Alan needed some help with the running of the club and I offered to help out, having had a bit of experience of running community groups and book keeping. As things progressed I designed, built and hosted the Eastside ABC website and the professional side of things, over at TeamAlio.co.uk.
“As times had changed Alan could no longer rely on faxes and letters to make fights so he started to refer all the managers and promoters to the website and my email address to manage all the boxers. From here we decided two years ago that rather than me just passing paperwork both ways and checking boxers out that I should probably apply for my matchmaker’s license. Alio picked a few fights, asked me to make predictions (these were right, phew!) and then suggested opponents and so on for his own pro boxers. We applied to the BBBofC for the matchmaker’s license, I attended the interview in front of the N.I. board and must have given a good account of myself as they put me forward for my license, which thankfully was passed and granted. I had been in the background working on the Belfast Promotions’ show before this but all the paperwork was completed by the promoter. Alongside this I have completed the amateur boxing requirements for a coach and work closely with Eastside ABC in the day to day running of the club. First aid, child protection, book keeping and so on.”
There are two fights that stick in Thompson’s mind when he recalls his finest matchmaking moments thus far: “The first would be Paul Kayes’ professional debut against Frenchman Norredine Dahou, who at the time was 3-1. Dahou arrived in Belfast with Thierry Jacob (Ex-WBC, EBU champion and multiple title challenger) and all of Thierry’s stable are KO artists. When they arrived in the hotel on the first night and we met, my heart was in my mouth. I thought, “Ohh shit, what have I done?” Paul Kayes is good but this guy’s coach is an ex-champion with a stable of big punchers. Paul had a tough fight but won it on points – it was a great pro debut. The guys stayed an extra day due to the Icelandic ash cloud but got to see the sights of Belfast and enjoyed the great beer!
“The second fight that sticks with me is one that many would like to forget. Michael Harvey vs. Radoslav Mitev and Harvey lost this fight 40-35. Now people might say that I was the matchmaker for the home boxers and there should have been a win on Harvey’s cards if I made the fight. I disagree. I promised the BBBofC when I applied for my license that I would make 50-50 fights and none of these walk over wins that we see too many of. Harvey was under weight, had not got his weights correct before the fight and although in great shape was drained and it showed on the night. No one can say I make easy fights, I don’t see the point in the promoter having to pay to cushion a boxers record. Are you not better to know if the boxer can box/fight in their first three quarter of fights? Better than pay a fortune to get a good record and then get proved to be a journeyman.”
Like many matchmakers, buzzing around on fight night is only part of the experience. Pre-fight weigh ins, organising hotels and transport for the away fighters, liaising with officials and medics, Thompson’s hands are usually full. His red-hot mobile phone never stops ringing when there’s a show to put together and in today’s multinational sport of boxing Gareth could do with speaking a variety of languages to ease his path to a successful card.
“Language barriers, no other matchmaker wants to divulge their contacts or international agents – just a handful of the headaches involved,” he says. “The BBBofC can also be snowed under on busy weeks so the rush to change opponents’ last minute can prove hard. Everything needs to be with the matchmaker before it goes to the BBBofC but getting all this from the agents and boxers can be difficult. Some agents think their boxer has the correct medicals for the BBBofC but a lot of the time these are not MRI scans but only MRA and then the fight will get knocked back.”
Matchmaking can be a fine art, a balancing act. Providing even-money, 50-50 fights across the card is what boxing fans want in an ideal world but giving the ‘house’ fighter a testing fight without unduly risking his record or reputation can be trickier to achieve. Eastern European journeymen that may fall at the drop of a feather, teak tough Africans who stick the course, movers, boxers, sluggers, southpaws, veterans, shot fighters, young prospects – the list is endless when considering who should face whom. At the higher echelons of boxing, TV starts to dictate fights, executives eager to please their fans begin to command the agenda, while at the bottom end of the scale the matchmakers and promoters are more likely concerned with somebody who is able to shift a pile of tickets.
As matchmaker Charles Jay once said, “if the matchmaker gets the house fighter beat, they’re basically out of a job.”
It may not always be as extreme as that, but the matchmaker is under pressure to perform a juggling act of getting good fan-friendly workouts for the paying customer while preserving the unbeaten, and/or selling power of the home fighter. This is something that Brian Peters Promotions’ matchmaker Tomas Rohan is particularly adept at. He has matched fighters at all levels since linking up with Peters in 2005 and was heavily involved in Bernard Dunne’s epic 2009 world title win over Ricardo Cordoba in Dublin.
“I think it will always be hard to top the night Bernard Dunne beat Ricardo Cordoba to win the WBA title,” he reckons. “Getting Cordoba to Dublin was a coup in itself and the whole night was a celebration of what was good about Irish boxing. You had Katie Taylor, Andy Lee, Andy Murray and Jim Rock on the card and you couldn’t have scripted the way the main event turned out. Bernard boxed out of his skin on the night and beat an excellent champion. It was an incredible atmosphere and an incredible night. I’ve been lucky enough to have witnessed some great nights for Irish boxing on the outside but that night was something else.”
Like any matchmaker trying to weld together a successful show with decent fights that doesn’t end up bankrupting the promoter, Tomas usually has to contend with a variety of headaches leading up to the show.
“Some shows just seem to be jinxed and you get a week (normally the week of the show!) where every phone call brings bad news with fighters pulling out injured or having visa problems, travel problems or some personal issue that causes them to pull out. On a few occasions I’ve had to go looking for replacement opponents after the weigh in on the day before the show so that’s always “fun”. I used to have hair before I started matchmaking so I think that tells its own story!”
We spoke to Rohan in the last review when celebrating the 10th anniversary of his creation Irish-boxing.com. Tomas set down the foundations and established a strong online presence for Irish boxing which continues to thrive.
“I’ve been a huge boxing fan since the 1992 Olympics and the heroics of Michael Carruth and Wayne McCullough. I can remember watching Barry McGuigan beat Eusebio Pedroza (I was just six at the time!) but it wasn’t until that Olympics in Barcelona that I was really bitten by the bug. It was a good time to be an Irish boxing fan because by the mid-90s Wayne and Steve Collins had gone on to win world titles in the pro ranks. In the early ‘noughties’ I started up Irish-Boxing.com as even though there wasn’t a lot happening in Ireland there were a lot of Irish pro’s competing abroad and as a fan I felt it would be good for other boxing fans to have an online outlet to follow their fighters’ progression.
“In 2005 Brian Peters started to run regular shows after Bernard Dunne returned home and for the first time ever, really regular professional boxing managed to establish itself in Ireland. Obviously the backing of RTÉ was crucial and it allowed the likes of Matthew Macklin, Andy Lee, John Duddy, Paul McCloskey, Andy Murray, Patrick Hyland and Willie Casey to all go on and headline their own bills. In 2006 I started working for Brian as press officer and matchmaker. It meant handing over Irish-Boxing.com but thankfully it’s gone from strength to strength ever since and a number of other sites have emerged as well which shows how healthy the current interest in Irish boxing is.
“On the amateur side of things I’m involved with Rathkeale Boxing Club in Limerick. After a long gap the club re-opened about eight years ago and has improved year-on-year since then and had its best year ever last year with seven Irish titles. It’s great to see the rewards that kids get out of boxing at every level whether they just take it up because they are overweight or getting bullied at school, to the kids who from day one who just take to it and seem to have a natural talent for boxing.”
After all those years involved in the matchmaking game, Tomas must have some interesting tales to tell us?
“Loads, but very few that I could ever commit to print!” he chuckles. “You probably wouldn’t believe half of them anyway but you genuinely couldn’t make up some of the stuff that you come across in boxing.”
Brian Peters ran a number of successful shows during what can now be described as a ‘boom period’ for the sport, domestically speaking. The charismatic promoter has been less involved of late (at least in a visible capacity) but his role in reinvigorating the Irish boxing scene cannot be understated. What does Tomas think about the state of the game and what needs to change domestically to keep up the momentum of a thriving scene?
“I think the main challenge for boxing in Ireland and indeed worldwide right now is the cost of running events without the support of TV or sponsors,” he opines. “It’s pretty much impossible for any promoter to break even on a show without the backing of TV or sponsorship. It always reminds me of that quote that the best way to become a millionaire in boxing is to start out as a billionaire!