Boxing: Feather move key to Dunne's future
Bernard Dunne in action during his defeat against Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym at the O2 Arena last Saturday
WHAT now for Bernard Dunne? Was his demolition at the clubbing fists of Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym last weekend the end of the road for him? Hardly.
The Dubliner (29) is taking a break for the next couple of months, which will lead him into the New Year with two options, always providing he does not take the advice of former Olympic gold medallist Michael Carruth, hang up his gloves and take up a job as a fireman.
He can stay at superbantamweight or move up to featherweight. The latter might appear to be the better choice as he would seem to have gone as far as he can at the lower weight, particularly as Kratingdaenggym looks like being around for a while yet. Remember too that featherweight was the division where he had most of his early fights after first turning pro in the US in 2001.
If he stays at superbantamweight, forgets about world titles in such a competitive division, and goes on the continental title trail, he is still going to have to meet the reigning European champion Rendall Munroe.
Munroe is the strong English southpaw who has always claimed, rightly or wrongly, that Dunne was avoiding him. Munroe has won 19 of his 20 fights and also holds the Commonwealth belt.
The European featherweight division is less competitive, as is the world scene at this weight. Nevertheless, there are still a few danger men at world title level, notably Chris John of Indonesia who has 42 wins in 44 fights and who holds the WBA title. The American, Steven Luevano, is also to be respected, with 37 wins, one loss and a draw and holder of the WBO championship.
Effectively, as Dunne knows already, it's tough at the top and whether he can ever again reach the heights he attained in the past remains to be seen. But there is still big money to be made, even if he missed out last weekend on a seven-figure deal to meet Mexico's formidable Israel Vasquez at featherweight, at a US venue in November.
Vasquez has been out of action for the past 18 months because of surgery to a detached retina and had to relinquish his WBC superbantamweight title. He said in Los Angeles yesterday that he was disappointed when hearing of Dunne's loss, and had warned Dunne recently that Poonsawat was a dangerous foe and one to be fully respected.
"Bernard and I sparred each other almost every day in Freddie Roach's Wild Card gym in Hollywood when he was starting out. He was boxing at featherweight then, and I think that is the division he should get back to.
"We would have done very well financially if we had fought as arranged before the Kratingdaenggym match, but that's how it goes. You win some, you lose some."
Vasquez, winner of 43 of his 47 fights, returns to the ring on October 10 when he meets the tough Colombian, Angel Antonio Priolo, in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, Dunne's coach Harry Hawkins said last night that he thought Kratingdaenggym would clean up the division. "He is easily the best out there," he said. "A strong fighter and as tough as a tank."
SHORT JABS
DUBLIN lightweight Oisin Fagan believes in keeping busy. Fresh from his impressive win in two rounds over Juris Ivanovs at the 02 last weekend, he climbs into the ring at the National Stadium on October 24 against an opponent to be named shortly.
It's one of the chief supports on 'The Best of the Irish' card being staged by Dolphil Promotions. The headliner is a return billed as 'The Battle Royal,' between Dublin middleweight rivals Robert Long and Anthony Fitzgerald. They met in a thriller at the Citywest Hotel in January when Long won a close decision.
- Thomas Myler
Irish Independent
