DONEGAL BOXING HOSTS its biggest night in years tomorrow night in The Clanree Hotel when a team of local boxers takes on a traveling team from Boston Academy.
Eleven bouts are down for decision between the cream of the Donegal crop and their Boston opponents with the first bell going at 8pm.
The event is being sponsored by Donegal County Council and sees a team from Boston visit Donegal for the first time since 1973, when a tournament was held in The Plaza, Buncrana.
The Donegal Boxing Board President, Peter O’Donnell, has been instrumental in organising this event, while Buncrana native and Boston resident Mark Porter was the link between the two.
The Donegal team contains seven-time Irish champion Labhaoise Clarke, who won a gold medal at the Brampton Cup in Canada earlier this year.
Carndonagh ABC’s Clarke meets Amanda Gurekki in a 60kgs bout.
Recently-crowned Irish Boy 1 36kgs champion Bernie McDonagh takes on Bubba Skelton, just a couple of weeks after Dunfanaghy’s McDonagh defeated Jake Daly to win his first national title.
Dungloe’s Mark McCole is the reigning Ulster Intermediate Champion, who won an Irish Colleges crown in 2014 and who previously won a Youth 2 All-Ireland title at 63kgs.
McCole faces James Perella at 69kgs and Convoy ABC’s former Irish Defence Forces champion Lee Boyd takes on Zack Deluca
Also on the card is Donna Barr, the Twin Towns woman who was beaten in the Irish Senior Elite final. Barr is up against Amande Pevone.
As well as the eleven bouts involving Donegal and Boston boxers, there will be six top-class support bouts with some excellent contests matched here, too.
On Friday, the Mayor of Donegal, Councillor Ciaran Brogan, will host a welcome reception for the Boston Academy Team at 2pm in the Letterkenny Public Services Centre.
“I am delighted to be welcoming 11 boxers from Boston, their coaches, officials and family members to Donegal this week on behalf of Donegal County Council,” Councillor Brogan said.
“We are delighted to be associated with this tournament showcasing our local talent, welcoming our visitors and building and strengthening our historic connections with Boston.”
SUPPORT BOUTS
Elite 52kgs Darryl Moran (Illies Golden Gloves) v Terry McEntee (Old School, Monaghan)
Intermediate 64kgs Cillin Boyce (Letterkenny BC) v Dennis Lafferty (Raphoe)
Intermediate 84kgs David Tennyson (Dungloe) v Gary Cannon (Carrigart)
Intermediate 71gs Cathal Gallagher (Twin Towns) v Paddy McGee (Carrickmore)
Intermediate 67kgs Orin McDermott (Raphoe) v TBC
Intermediate 81kgs Garbhan Friel (Illies Golden Gloves) v Conal Deeney (Carrickmore)
DONEGAL v BOSTON
Boy 1 37kgs Bernie McDonagh (Dunfanaghy) v Bubba Skelton (Boston)
Boy 4 60kgs Hugh Doherty (St Brigid’s Clonmany) v Brendan Crowley (Boston)
Female 60kgs Labhaoise Clarke (Carndonagh) v Amanda Gurekki (Boston)
Junior 60kgs Matthew McCole (Dungloe) v Michael O’Hann (Boston)
Junior 67kgs Dean Doherty (Carndonagh) v Geo Lorenzo (Boston)
Youth 2 75kgs Brian Elliott (Illies GG) v Tom Hadden (Boston)
Youth 2 75kgs John Ward (Letterkenny) v Paul Hadden (Boston)
Female 54kgs Donna Barr (Twin Towns) v Amande Pevone (Boston)
Intermediate 75kgs Oran Shields (Letterkenny) v Christian Callaghan (Boston)
Intermediate 69kgs Lee Boyd (Convoy) v Zack Deluca (Boston)
Intermediate 69kgs Mark McCole (Dungloe) v James Perella (Boston)
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