THE BOSTON BOXING ACADEMY were given an official welcome to Donegal yesterday at the Letterkenny Public Services Centre – and a return trip is on the cards for Donegal next spring.
The show proved a huge hit with Donegal winning the star-studded night by seven bouts to two.
The Boston team is led by a Buncrana native, Mark Porter, a former boxer in his home town in his youth.
Yesterday, the Mayor of Donegal, Councillor Ciaran Brogan, and the Mayor of the Letterkenny Municipal District, Councillor Gerry McMonagle, joined to accord the Boston entourage an official welcome.
“This is a special trip for many people, but especially for Mark Porter, who was the architect,” Councillor Brogan said..
“ This wouldn’t have happened without him. I heard so much about Mark Porter when I was in Boston for St Patrick’s Day. It was a great honour to be in Boston for your parade. There is a great relationship between Donegal and Boston and this just adds to it.
“It was a great night’s boxing and a great night’s entertainment. I want to pay tribute to the Donegal Boxing Board.”
The County Mayor paid tribute to Donegal’s boxing fraternity, in particular the Donegal Boxing Board President, Peter O’Donnell.
Councillor Brogan said: “It is important to recognise the people who are involved in boxing in Donegal. It has been their life and they do this for no reward other than the satisfaction of their sport.
“We have some great success stories in Donegal boxing. There is great discipline and respect in boxing and we have some great ambassadors from the sport in the county.”
Councillor McMonagle said those involved in the sport are due credit for the work they do for the youth of the county.
“Boxing takes people in off the streets, gives them discipline and a focus to better their lives,” he said.
“We are very proud of boxing in Donegal.
“It was a brilliant show and a lot of that is down to your contribution. Your fighters proved very able and that’s whatit’s all about – it’s about sport and about enjoyment.”
The Boston team is on a tour of Donegal today before flying back to America tomorrow.
Gifts were exchanged between the parties and Gary Martin, the Head of Finance with Donegal County Council, added: “Boston and the east coast of the United States is our closest parish in many ways. When you go to Slieve League and look west, it is essentially the nest parish.”
Porter, who is heavily involved in the sweet science in Boston said the trip – the first for a Boston team since 1973 when they fought at The Plaza in Buncrana – was ‘a phenomenal experience’.
“You have made us all proud,” he said.
“We are so proud of everything you done and how you handled yourselves. You proved yourselves above and beyond it. Anyone can go into the ring, but it says a lot about gentlemen who come out of the ring – all of you have done that.”
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