PEGASUS ABC hosted a great night of boxing last Friday in the Ballymote Sport and Well-Being Centre.
The cross-community show was the idea of Loretta Cunningham, a member of Downpatrick PSNI, and clubs from Belfast included Saints ABC, Carrick ABC and Red Triangle as well as local clubs All Blacks and Newcastle ABC.
Thanks to Loretta and her colleagues, who not only supplied the medals for the show, but who made sure all the boxers, coaches and a lot of the spectators were well fed as they supplied food and refreshments which quickly disappeared.
All contests were exhibitions and some cracking contests were enjoyed. Pegasus’ youngest boxer, Thomas Crane, was matched with All Black boxer Oran Barlow.
It was hard to separate these young lads after three frantic rounds and both lads should be well pleased with their efforts. Pegasus heavyweight, Lucas Golubinski, was matched against Michael McCoy from Red Triangle.
The two big men did not hold back and traded some heavy shots, but neither man showed any signs of wilting and after three rounds looked like they could have boxed three more, which showed how fit they both were.
Curtis Ward shows improvement with each contest and he had a lively encounter with Saints boxer Chris McWilliams. Adam McCrissican had his first contest against All Black boxer Caolan Barlow and showed good potential.
A cracking contest between Pierce Crane and Saints boxer Caolan McAlourn showed boxing at its very best.
Eoin Dignam enjoyed a good scrap with All Black Padraig Stevenson and is fast improving. Intermediate boxer Mickey Flanagan, arguably the most talented of the three Flanagan brothers, boxed superbly against All Black Sean McIlroy at 71 kilos.
Gary Flynn was another who impressed against Mathew Fitzsimmons, from Saints ABC. Steven ‘Danger’ Burke was next for Pegasus and he took on Newcastle boxer Conor O’Neill in another cracking contest.
The talented Dylan Duffy met All Black Steven Sweeney and put on a master class of counter punching, picking his shots beautifully and young Sweeney played his part, pushing forward relentlessly in a thrilling match.
Mick Newall of Red Triangle also impressed against All Black Chris Cunningham. Pegasus’ Ben McLoughlin mixed it up with Bernard Colligan, from Saints ABC.
This was Ben’s first contest and a good future beckons. Thanks again to Loretta and her colleagues for all their work in putting this show together.