By Steve Wellings

In an era of boxing hyperbole, it’s still possible to spot a classic fight, and the IBF International title clash between Eddie Hyland and Oisin Fagan was certainly one of those.  These two local super-featherweights brought vocal support and bags of pride and bravery to the National Basketball Arena in Hyland’s Tallaght patch, before the 28 year-old Hyland deservedly prevailed on points.

A contest that was always sure to ignite actually began as a war of attrition, with early nip and tuck rounds where a case could be made for either boxer.  So far 2009 has served up Lindsay-Appleby, Long-Fitzgerald, and Dunne-Cordoba as Irish fight of the year candidates, but opinion was unanimous that this had taken a possibly insurmountable lead in that race.  It would take something special to pass such an epic domestic battle.

Hyland (130lb) incorporated a good defence and head movement throughout and started the bout popping his jab as Fagan (129lb 8ozs) marauded in. 

Round two was impossible to split as both men engaged in give and take, with underrated technical prowess, neither willing to offer ground to the other.  The third ended with a standing ovation (the first of many) after some heavy exchanges, in which I felt Hyland got the better, as he did in the fourth before Fagan came on strong to take the round.

What won the fight for Eddie was his ability to adapt and use clever boxing tactics during the middle rounds, by circling the ring and picking Oisin off with sharper blows.  His cleaner blows and better punch economy was the perfect antidote for Fagan’s phenomenal pressure tactics. 

Fagan’s better variety won him the eighth to narrow the scores, on my card at least; his left eye was now heavily swelling.  Hyland had needed two hours to take the weight and Fagan’s coach Phil Sutcliffe admitted afterwards that they had expected Eddie to fade down the stretch.  I had a suspicion that it could happen but Hyland had conserved enough in the tank to take the 10th and 11th, with Fagan sagging for the first time under fire.

Referee Mickey Vann held his fingers up before the final session to Oisin as his rapidly bruising eye worsened, but the 35 year-old fought through the storm to claim the last round, which was ultimately futile.

The judges had it wider than most, with Irish referee Emile Tiedt posting a score of 118-111, Howard Foster 116-112, and Phil Edwards 118-110 (incorrectly announced as 118-114). 

MC Harry McGavock had Hyland and his fans worried by initially announcing the result as a majority decision, but an unmarked Eddie laughed this mistake off in the changing room afterwards.  “I’m used to Harry!” he laughed.  “I knew I was going to win but my heart was in my mouth a little.  You have to kill me to beat me – my fitness was there and I paced the 12 rounds well.

“Hats off to Oisin, I thought I boxed a little bit better and even though he never hurt me it was a great effort and I had sparred him before so I knew what to expect.  If the money’s right I’ll take a rematch, but leave my next move to the boys and that was a world class fight, so maybe a world title at some point.  In close I caught him with a lot of scoring points,” Eddie sighed, “I need a good rest now and then [Cristobal] Cruz is the one I want.”

An understandably disconsolate Fagan discussed his next move while having a badly swelled left eye treated.  “The eye did actually handicap me but I thought the decision was fair although the point totals were too wide,” claimed the loser.  “I’ve been on the end of bad decisions before and I don’t dispute this one.

“I would like a return fight if the money’s right and that was done in memory of Arturo.  I wasn’t stung at any time but digs are digs and I’ll have to think hard about my next move.  I really thought I had it in me to win this fight so I hadn’t contemplated defeat and I’m very disappointed.  I think I’ll carry on, I’m 35; we’ll see after the struggle to get to super-featherweight I’ll have to think about boxing full-time.  I’ll be back at the gym on Tuesday.”

Coach Phil Sutcliffe thinks Oisin has more to offer.  “It’s his first fight at the weight and the first war was won when he made the weight,” he claimed.  “Eddie didn’t make the weight but Oisin showed he was the ultimate professional by getting down to super-featherweight.  Eddie didn’t tire how we thought he would down the stretch.  I didn’t think we won it but a little more Crumlin teaching and Fagan will be fine-tuned.  Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

American boxing manager Tom Moran interceded.  “You guys just produced a Ward-Gatti for Ireland and should be proud of that effort. We want you over in America and then back for a rematch; Arturo would have been proud of that.”

In a solid joint main event, Patrick Hyland outscored Swedish-based Ugandan Abdu Tebazalwa for the IBF International belt at featherweight. Tebazalwa –who had taken Choi Tseveenpurev to a split decision - answered the call at late notice after Colombian Hevinson Herrera stopped answering IBF phone calls.  25 year-old Patrick could be the best of the Hyland clan, and he did not disappoint while posting a dominating, yet never easy, decision victory.

Phil Edwards favoured the local by 118-110, as did Mickey Vann, while Emile Tiedt saw it a little wider at 119-109 - Doncaster’s Howard Foster took control in the ring.

Tebazalwa had played some mind games with Hyland at the weigh-in and was in confident mood when I spoke to him and his trainers before the fight; his head coach claiming that Paddy Hyland had made a huge mistake.  In truth, he was strong, durable and game but never came close to upsetting the odds.  Hyland’s broomstick jab kept Abdu “honest” from the opening as the lanky featherweight attacked the African’s body and ripped off classy combinations.

Some heavy artillery in the middle rounds caused Tebazalwa (126lb) to back off and suddenly he appeared shaken, only to showboat and dispute the fact he was hurt.  I gave Abdu a share of the sixth after a Hyland clean sweep of rounds and he had to wait until the ninth until he claimed a solitary round on my card.  The crowd sensed this and responded with a rallying call, before some “afters” in the tenth ratcheted up the tension.

The two pugilists were all smiles in the eleventh and hugged out of respect.  Tebazalwa refused to budge even in the final round as Patrick (125lb 4ozs) loaded up looking for a spectacular finish; it never came, but the result was never in doubt.  I totalled 118-114 for what it was worth.

“That’s three belts I have now so I’m delighted and hopefully the next one can be a major title,” said Patrick in the dressing room afterwards.  “The plan was to get the 12 rounds in and even if I had him going I still wanted to go the distance.  I didn’t have to work as hard as Eddie anyway!  I controlled my fight and he was a hard-hitting opponent; he could certainly bang so I used the jab.

“I lost my balance a little and used the body shots but he was quite frustrating. I want to defend this belt and then step-up in class.”  The laconic Tebazalwa lurked around ringside nursing a sore right hand, “He is a good fighter, who can go far,” he claimed.

Paul Hyland made it a triple for the Tallaght siblings when posting an 80-75 win on referee Emile Tiedt’s scorecard over Bradford’s Robert Nelson; I had it a point wider at 80-74.

Hyland may lack pop but has abundant talent and the left hook to the body that dropped Nelson in the first round was a result of Paul’s frustrating inactivity.  Nelson (121lb 2ozs) looked over to trainer Michael Marsden while on one knee and I thought for a second he might bail out, but the now 7-3-2 battler fought back and played his part in a spirited contest.

Nelson even claimed a share of the second round; using good pressure as Hyland (120lb 8ozs) lay nonchalantly on the ropes, whipping in flashy counters as the 29 year-old Nelson swarmed in.

The more fluid work of Paul won him the middle rounds as the well-ripped fighter turned southpaw to confuse his foe.  By the sixth, a nasty cut caused from a punch had opened over Nelson’s left eye (he later told me it required eight stitches) and the doctor took a closer inspection. 

Hyland’s classy left uppercuts from the southpaw stance rained in but Robert found a home for the right hand over Paul’s now ill-advised southpaw posture.  The away man was badly rocked in the final round and did well to survive the onslaught; he comes out of this with credit for his efforts.

“I didn’t think I boxed that well but it was all about getting the ring rust off after six and a half months out of the ring,” Paul stated.  “He sussed my left hooks out so I moved southpaw, which he couldn’t handle.  I wasn’t looking for the body in particular but it just came and I kept throwing the body shots.

“I was frustrated at the European title situation and it came out here tonight.  He was a good fighter and held me, grabbed me and the cut was caused with a peach of a right uppercut.  I am aiming for the EU title and then hoping for a crack at [Rendall] Munroe; my promotional situation is up in the air – I signed up for the European title shot and I haven’t got it yet.  I had the beating of Ian Napa and I will see what happens with regards to a crack at the French fella [Bouziane] who beat Napa.

“As long as I keep active and keep winning then they have to give me a shot at a major title.  The belts will come and I’ll be back in Tallaght with the Shamrock Rovers fans out there.”

Cork puncher Gary O’Sullivan doesn’t usually disappoint the fans and while he gave his all, the best word for his 6x3’s win over Arturs Jaskuls would be “workmanlike”.  Missing the same snap that smashed through Peter Dunne and Tye Williams, Gary was clearly upset by his lacklustre display.  Referee Mickey Vann danced around the ring with the deftness now missing from British rings (Vann is still allowed to referee in Ireland) before awarding ‘Spike’ a 59-56 verdict.

The Cork man tried to unhinge cagey Jaskuls (156lb, same as his opponent) with slicing hooks, but resting his head on the Latvian’s and whaling away was not the way to go and he looked much better when taking a step off and using the jab.

O’Sullivan swelled up and a buoyant Arturs gave some back, before the frustrated home fighter turned southpaw and dropped his hands.  The phonebox style did not suit Gary but I still awarded him every round, as Jaskuls never sustained an offensive, preferring single retorts. 

A domestic fight with the likes of Ciaran Healy, Henry Coyle or Lee Murtagh would be a welcome step-up in levels for O’Sullivan who is in danger of stagnating.  The Irish light-middleweight champion Neil Sinclair would be a level too far at this stage.

In the four-round show opener Paddy Hyland’s other charge Robert Long out pointed Denis Sirjatovs by winning every stanza.  His left hook to the body worked well, Denis (163lb) was sagging in the second round and looked gassed but to his credit he lasted the pace. Slugger Long (164lb 2ozs) was also tiring by the third and an uppercut in the last session sealed his dominance.  Hopefully a return with Anthony Fitzgerald will be signed soon; the first fight in January was a great dust-up between two hungry local fighters.

Limerick crowd pleaser Jamie Power brought plenty of support with him and did not disappoint when Kirill Pshonko retired shortly into the third round.  Lithuania’s Pshonko (186lb 6ozs) has only won once as a pro but he did take George Groves the distance on his debut last November.  Power (195lb 6ozs) had been due to face John Waldron in an enticing domestic fight, but Waldron pulled out.

Dubliner Anthony Fitzgerald (164lb 6ozs) has now returned to winning ways after another stoppage victory; this time Bradford novice Peter Cannon was the victim.  Referee David Irving from Belfast called a halt at 1.06 of the third with Cannon (164lb 2ozs) under duress.  The only issue was the fight being made over 6x2s, prompting question marks over Anthony’s stamina.

Sidenotes:

Harry McGavock dealt with the introductions and the crowd warmed to his customary mistakes and extravagant hyperbole.  Martin Rogan and Katie Taylor were both ringside and Harry moved them into the ring for a wave at the crowd.

IBF supervisor Roberto Rea cut a diminutive yet authoritative figure at ringside and back stage, giving orders and keeping things moving smoothly with typical fiery South American spirit.

Paddy Hyland and Pat Ryan put on another good quality show, with Setanta Ireland and Ireland’s City TV airing the acting at some point in the future.