Irish flags, painted faces, and thick accents encompassed the Armory in Dorchester, Massachusetts as Celtic Pride Boxing brought a tremendous night of professional fights headlined by Irish import Patrick Hyland, an undefeated Jr. Lightweight prospect from Dublin. Hyland, 16-0 (8 KO’s), 129, defeated the unheralded Carlos Guevara, 12-9-2 (9 KO’s), 129 of boxing legend Alexis Arguello’s native Managua, Nicaragua in a 10 round unanimous decision for the vacant IBA international Super Featherweight Title.
The opening round began at a fast pace, with both combatants throwing punches seemingly uninterested in pacing themselves. Hyland’s superior accurate punching edged out Guevara in the first, with the Nicaraguan coming back strong in the second and third rounds, pinning Hyland on the ropes and delivering shots to the body. However, as round four began, Guevara reverted back to his wild punching style, missing shots while Hyland came on strong, delivering solid left hooks and combinations. Throughout the last five rounds, Hyland’s flush shots, superior defense and boxing ability proved too much for Guevara, and as the final bell rang the two traded in a vicious exchange as the crowd rose to their feet.
In the co-main event, Hyland’s fellow countryman Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan, 7-0 (5 KO’s), 154, defeated Weymouth, MA resident Jimmy LeBlanc, 152, via disqualification, picking up the AFO Jr. Middleweight Title in the process. LeBlanc, 12-16-4 (4 KO’s), seemed to recognize that he was outclassed from the opening round, as “Spike” peppered him with jabs and impressive body work. By the fourth round, LeBlanc had been deducted a total of three points due to excessive holding, uninterested in continuing to take the assault brought forth by the Cork native.
A special four round Jr. Welterweight attraction was held between title bouts, as local favorite Danny O’Connor of Framingham, MA, who came to the ring garnering a massive ovation, won by vicious knockout in the first round. O’Connor, 4-0 (2 KO’s), 141, took the fight to Philadelphia, PA’s Charles Wade, 4-9 (1 KO) from the opening bell. A big right hook from the Southpaw O’Connor floored Wade barely a minute into the action, with another hook dropping Wade as his corner threw in the towel. The fight was stopped at the 1:45 mark. Unfortunately, for another local favorite in Quincy, MA’s Danny Conway, who was making his professional debut, things did not go so smooth. During an action-packed fight against New Jersey’s Raphael Jastrzedski, Conway started in spectacular fashion, knocking down Jastrzedski in the opening seconds of round one. However, by the end of the first, Conway was on the ropes, getting hit flush, and seemingly out of gas. When a bit right hand from Jastrzedski floored Conway 46 seconds into the second, his corner threw in the towel
Numerous undercard bouts warmed up the Dorchester crowd before main event proceedings, with up and coming Super Middeweight Nick Brinson, 2-0 (2 KO’s) stopping Anthony Cannon via third round KO. Brinson, 168, came out aggressive against Cannon, 167, from the opening bell. By the second round, Cannon, 4-12 (1 KO) was forced to cover up on the ropes and take punishment until Brinson dropped the Detroit, MI native in his own corner mid-way through the third round. In addition, Lawrence, MA resident Alexis Santos, 1-0 (1 KO) made his pro debut in impressive fashion, also winning by third round stoppage. Though a natural Cruiserweight, Santos weighed in at 206 pounds for his Heavyweight bout against Steve Jaegar, 228, 0-1, in which impeccable jabbing from Santos and Jaegar’s sub-par stamina told the tale. Two right hands twice floored Jaegar in the second, with many onlookers unsure he would survive the assault, until only 12 seconds into the third round, another flush right hand by Santos halted the bout.
Other notable bouts included undefeated Light Heavyweight Mark “TNT” Tucker, 8-0 (7 KO’s), stopping Juergen Hartenstein in the first, as beautiful combination punches found their mark until the referee suggested the doctor tend to Hartenstein. Though confusion first set in, with the Tucker corner becoming irate that the opposing corner had stepped onto the ring apron, the fight was officially stopped at the 2:40 mark. Also making his pro debut was Taunton, MA Welterweight Justin Paulo, 1-0, defeating another fellow pro debuting opponent, the Goody Petronelli trained Antonio Chaves-Fernandes of Brockton, MA. Paulo’s increased work rate and clean punching proved too much for the young Fernandes, as he would not overcome the speed factor, and seemed to be unable to find his target. Paulo was awarded the Unanimous Decision victory.
On the eve of the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Celtic Pride Boxing provided an eventful night of fights, showcasing young prospects making their debut, and established young fighters who intend to make a splash in their respective divisions in the near future. There seemed to be no Luck of the Irish this night, simply superiority.