An all-star American team of boxers will take on Irish champions in a top-class international amateur boxing contest between twin cities Galway and Chicago on Sunday July 12.
Dubbed ‘The Sister Cities Challenge’, the night will feature six senior title bouts between American and Irish Champions. The event will be a also be a chance to see future Olympic stars from both countries in action.
Headlining the event will be newly crowned European champion David Oliver Joyce who will take on the All-American champion Darres Smith from Chicago. Both have an international pedigree in world competitions and this should be an explosive and entertaining bout.
Three-times Irish title holder Brian Brosnan from Olympic Boxing Club will be taking on Tracy Rollins, who is a US champion holder and will be bidding for gold in London in 2012. Rollins has an exciting, fast style and will be hard work for Brosnan, who has been training with the high performance boxing squad in Dublin.
Two-times Irish youth champion, Kieran Forde, who will be bidding for senior honours in the near future, will be up against an All-American and Olympian Jose Arambula at 60kg. Forde, from Monivea BC, is a rising star in the Irish boxing ranks and will be looking to put on a strong show in his home town against a class opponent.
The talented Patrick Ward from Olympic Boxing Club will take on Oscar Ayala at 67kg, and with both boxers boasting a classy style and tight defence, there will be little in this match up.
Supporting these bouts will be Olympic’s Bernard Mongan against Colin Richardson (Munster Champion ) at 74kg, while Francis ‘The Connemara Rock’ Kane from Connemara will take on Gerard Barrett from Olympic at super heavy. The night will also see action between senior heavyweight Michael McDonagh from Olympic, and Michael Mullaly from Claremorris BC.
The Chicago team will be staying in Galway for four days and will receive a civic reception due to the historical link between the teams.
Galway team coach John Mongan hopes “the people of Galway will come out to support our lads against the US team, who beat us the last time they visited Galway - more than 20 years ago”.
“We will be hoping to reverse that result this time, while treating them to an Irish welcome, and we hope they enjoy every other aspect of their visit.”
There will be dancing after the event and the night will also feature an auction of boxing memorabilia (including a signed gloves from world champs Joe Frazier and Bernard Dunne ) and raffle for various prizes.
Doors open at Galway Bay Hotel at 5pm. Tickets €20 adult, €10 juvenile. Tickets available from Sally Longs, John (087-22559853 ), Paul (087-9314476 ), and John Connolly, club chairman (087-9032345 ). or on the door on the night
