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AN AUDIENCE WITH MICKY WARD & DICKIE EKLUND

Saturday 5th May London Hilton Metropole

By Rio

London - Thursday, 15th March 2012

‘Irish’ Micky Ward And Dickie Eklund - The Real ‘Fighters’ - Hit The U.K

In March 2011 the Blockbuster Film “The Fighter”, which told the story of boxing legends “Irish” Micky Ward (played by Mark Wahlberg) and his brother Dickie Eklund (played by Christian Bale), burst on to the silver screen.

The film, which portrayed the family’s journey from despair to the top of the world of boxing, was a huge box office hit. No surprise then that during the 2011 Movie Award season ‘The Fighter’ won no less than ten accolades, including 2 Academy Awards, 3 Golden Globes and Best Sports Movie!

Now, some twelve months later, boxing promoter Nina C announces that she is set to bring Micky and Dickie to the UK to talk about their rags to riches story in their own words at three special events, titled “An Audience with the Real Fighters”, which will take place at three venues in London, Essex and Kent over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Making these events even more special is that this will be the first time, since the film’s release, that the brothers will have spoken in public about their now famous story.

Micky, who graciously delayed the American release of his new book “A Warrior’s Heart” in order to undertake the mini-tour, said, “I’m really excited to be coming back to London, have always had a lot of love for the UK as that is where I won my WBU Championship Light Welterweight Belt - it’s one of my favourite places”.

Older brother Dickie then added: “I made some good boxing friends in the UK and can’t wait to catch up on what’s going on there. The Brits are good people - really looking forward to it. I’m ready to go and hope the UK is ready for me and to hear the tale of when I knocked down Sugar Ray….. over a cuppa!”

Nina C, the first female promoter in the world of boxing, has really come up trumps with this very special series of events and as usual she leaves no stone unturned to present boxing fans a memorable night of entertainment. In addition to an audience with the brothers each event will include a smorgasbord of appetising meals, entertainment and, as always, a few surprises along the way!

Excited at pulling of such a coup Nina said earlier, “It’s such a fantastic film, and the beautiful thing is that from start to finish it’s true.

This is a once in a lifetime experience for me and I am proud to be promoting the brothers and what better way for fans to meet them than at “An Audience With”.

Dickie is a joker, a laugh a minute and Micky a gentleman. They are both really lovely people and it’s an honour to work with them”

Nina has also arranged that the visit by Micky and Dickie will raise much needed funds for the OneLife UK Charity. OneLife UK Rep Wayne Eldridge spoke briefly on the news “I was shocked to get the call from Nina and really excited that she chose us! This will help countless people better themselves and better the communities they live in”.

During their stay the brothers will also be visiting selected gyms to meet local underprivileged kids, who will have the opportunity to work out with the legends and, hopefully, generate some fundraising. These will include Brentwood ABC, Essex, O’Neill’s Gym, Margate, Kent and the Legendary TRAD TKO Gym in Canning Town, London

Dates for An Audience with The Real Fighters - Micky Ward and Dickie Eklund:

Sat 5th May London Hilton Metropole

Bank Holiday Sunday 6th May Essex Crown Plaza Maldon ( 10 min M11)

Bank Holiday Monday 7th May- Kent Priestfield Suite Gillingham

Tickets

VIP - £120 includes photograph with Micky Ward and Dickie Eklund and as well as front row seats and a meal

Gold - £100 includes meal

Tickets are available on line at www.touchglovepromotions.co.uk and www.tkoboxoffice.com or call Touch Glove Promotions Office 01277-410167 10-6pm

Children are welcome

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Boxing fans in the Maltese Islands are in for a treat tomorrow evening, when Malta’s most popular boxer Billy ” The Hitman” Corito will be enjoying top billing at the, Sky Club, Paceville, Malta.

The fight card which is being promoted by local promoter PAUL BORG will see a number of Maltese fighters take on members of the English, Birmingham, based the European Boxing Federation (EBF).

The EBF which was established in 2005, http://www.ebfboxing.org/about , and holds around a hundred white collar and semi pro boxing shows yearly, was set up with the idea of providing a useful bridge between Amateur and Professional boxing allowing people from all walks of life to participate in competitive boxing. The EBF makes it a point to welcome, Ex-professionals, Former –Amateurs and Pre-professionals.

Topping the fight card is, Malta’s Heavyweight, Billy Corito, who is ranked as #8 in the EBF rankings, will face the experienced Ian Toby, a former professional, who retired from the pro circuit in 2001.

Previous to that a number of Maltese boxers will face a variety of boxers all registered with the EBF – Dione Galea will face Jordan Black – Etienne Spiteri will face Slinky Cumberlbach – Clayton Vella will face Scott Conners – Justin Grech will go up against Phill Worell. The under card will consist of 4X2 minute rounds, while the feature of the night will be of 6X3 minute rounds.

The VIP guest for this show is well known Irish Boxer Joe Egan turned actor http://www.bigjoeegan.com/described by Mike Tyson as ‘The toughest white man on the planet’.

For more info about Joe Egan: http://www.bigjoeegan.com/bio.html

Today the 26^th of January is the official weigh-in which is being held at the ‘Black Bull’ Paceville.

Tickets selling at €25 (VIP) and €15 are available from the London Butcher, Sir Frederick C. Ponsonby Street Gzira, The Art of Fighting and Boxway Fitness Gym Msida.

Video Links to Ian Toby

Video Links to Billy Corito

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Yesterday ‘The Fighter’ a movie about Irish boxer Micky Ward was nominated for seven Oscars, including the prestigious “Motion Picture Of The Year” award.

The Fighter is the inspirational, true story of these two brothers who, against all the odds, come together to train for a historic title bout that will unite their fractured family, redeem their pasts and, at last, give their hard-luck town what it’s been waiting for: pride. The story unfolds on the gritty, blue-collar streets of Lowell, Mass, where Dicky was once known as “The Pride of Lowell” having gone the distance with the world champion Sugar Ray Leonard. However, after losing that fight, like the town of Lowell, Dicky’s fallen on hard times. His boxing days are behind him and his life has become shattered by drug abuse. Younger brother Micky, meanwhile, has become the family’s fighter and fading hope for a champion. But despite all of his work, Micky’s career is failing and he loses fight after punishing fight. Dicky and Micky’s tougher-than-nails mother, Alice (MELISSA LEO), manages his career and Dicky serves as his highly unreliable trainer. When Micky’s latest fight nearly kills him, it looks like it could all be over - until his iron-willed new girlfriend, Charlene (AMY ADAMS), convinces him to do the unthinkable: split with his family, pursue his own interests and train without his increasingly volatile and criminal brother. Now Micky has the chance of a lifetime as he earns a shot at the World Championship. But when his brother and dysfunctional family reenter his life, they must all reconcile their pasts and become more than just a family in name. With Micky and Dicky reunited, this becomes more than just a fight - it’s an all-out comeback for these brothers, their family, and their city. When it’s over, Micky will have become a World Champion, a Hall of Fame legend, and the new “Pride of Lowell”. The Fighter is a moving and often humorous drama about fighting for the people you love.

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Bernard O’Neill

Saturday, January 22, 2024

Irish National Novice Championships Finals

Mairead Whelan added to the Ryston BC’s ever expanding collection of Irish titles with a first round stoppage of Sandra McNally in the opening final in tonight’s National Novice Championships at IABA headquarters.

Whelan was 3-0 up when the flyweight decider was stopped just before the bell for the end of the frame. The bantamweight decider went to way of Dylan McDonagh, who carried a 4-0 first round advantage to the final bell at the expense of Chris Smith.

Miread Keane, who had multiple Irish senior champ Stephen Reynolds working her corner, ensured that one title was heading back to Sligo after coming from behind against Drimnagh BC ace Stephanie Quaile, who was leading for most of the three-rounder.

However, never-say-die Keane pulled it back to 6-6 in the final stanza and triumphed on a countback.

Meantime, Star BC featherweight John Hale was 6-0 up and en route to victory when his 57Kg showdown with Stephen McGaley was stopped in the second.

Aaron McKeith also impressed, a 4-1 decision over Darragh Hall ensuring that the Glengormley BC didn’t go home empty handed, while Cork’s Timmy Lehane and Bray’s Ryan Nolan were involved in a battle royale at 64Kg.

Lehane took the first round 1-0, but Nolan restored parity in the third to tie the light-welter final at 1-1 at the final bell before Lehane’s hand was raised in victory on a razor thin 3-2 countback.

The 67Kg final was a much tamer affair, not that that will trouble Clonard’s Conal Hall who denied Munster a second belt in a row after seizing the initiative in the second on his way to a 6-2 win over Limerick’s Daniel Tobin.

Dean Desmond was hoping to claim two on the trot for the Rylane BC in his 81Kg final with Karl O’Donnell. The Leesider opened up a 1-0 lead against the Dubliner in the first.

However, O’Donnell leveled affairs before the bell and both boxers were tied at 3-3 going into the third. It was 4-4 early in the second - and ended up at 5-5 - before O’Donnell shaded a 10-9 countback from one of the bouts of the Championships.

John Corcoran (Four Corners BC) denied the Star BC in Belfast their second title after producing a magnificent final round against Liam Corr. It was locked at 2-2 going into the third round of this encounter, but Corcoran racked up five points without reply to collect the cruiserweight title.

The super-heavyweight honours went to Noel Phelan. The Tolerton man was 6-1 in front at the start of the second round against Paul Courtney, who received a public warning for dropping his head in the first, and 8-2 ahead going into the third before sealing an 11-4 decision.

Dylan McDonagh (red) v Chris Smith

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SUNDAY INDEPENDENT in Ireland.

From the - Independent.ie - Sunday 12 September

By John O’Brien

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Gerry Storey and his ‘wee club’ in Belfast have created a lasting legacy in Irish boxing, writes John O’Brien

Patrick Barnes keeps a photo on his mobile phone. Every now and again he changes it, but the theme remains constant. It used to show his son, Paddy, during his hour of glory at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Now it depicts him standing on the podium at this year’s European Championships in Moscow. From bronze to gold, it has been upgraded. It will do, he says, until something better comes along.

His laugh rises above the din in a crowded room on the second floor of a modest building on the New Lodge Estate in north Belfast. The Reccy has housed the Holy Family Boxing Club since the early 1970s. Six days a week they file up the stairs and cram into the gym, the tiny space an incongruous setting for the magnitude of their achievements and the breadth of their ambition.

On evenings like this, Barnes will sit in the corner and wonder how many disparate elements you can fit into such a small space: Catholic, Protestant, amateur, professional, girls, boys, kids, hardened fighters. He sees Carl Frampton, Barry McGuigan’s protégé, limber up in front of him, donning what looks to be an old-fashioned pair of long johns. Barnes cracks up. “Could the boy McGuigan not buy you something better than that?” he laughs.

Over the years Frampton and Paddy Barnes became close. They sparred for hours in the ring and fought for Antrim and Ulster titles that had the boxing community in Belfast buzzing. Frampton, a stockier fighter, usually held the edge but Barnes’ fighting spirit always made it a tight call. Frampton, the young pro from the Loyalist Tigers Bay area of north Belfast. Barnes, the amateur champion from across the road in Catholic Cliftonville. Once they entered the gym, such distinctions never mattered.

Where else would you see it, Barnes Snr wonders. The history and tradition is splashed on every available square inch of wall around them. Ulster titles, national titles, European and world medals, Commonwealth titles, Olympians, Olympic medals. “Northern Ireland has won 23 Commonwealth medals and Holy Family has 11 of those,” he says proudly. “Irish boxers have won 12 Olympic medals. We’ve got two of those. We’ve over 105 national titles. This wee club.”

And they are ever pushing on. For all their years of endurance in tough times, Holy Family never had a year like this year. A European gold in Moscow. Gold at the Youth Olympics in Singapore. Patrick Barnes remembers all those evenings his son would spar with Ryan Burnett, seeing what the rest of the country wasn’t seeing, knowing that they hadn’t just one star on their hands, but two.

Four months ago, Burnett claimed a silver medal at the World Youth Championships in Azerbaijan and felt he had been robbed in the final against Salman Alizada who was fighting in front of his home crowd. Yet when he returned home the papers were full of the bother created when Billy Walsh had been overlooked for the position of high-performance director. They found that strange and disconcerting.

They have no issues with the high-performance set-up here. Barnes spends three days a week in Dublin and knows that without the top-class sparring and facilities they offer he wouldn’t be European champion or Olympic bronze medallist. Yet Dublin will never be home. You watch him in the ring now, holding the pads while Aidan Walsh, a 13-year-old with the hunger and ability to be a future champion, goes through his paces in the ring, his face breaking into a broad grin as the kid bears down upon him with menacing intent.

He is happier here than any place in the world. In the small, proud gym that shaped him. Among the people who made him.

One man in particular.

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