BOXERS representing Antrim honoured the memory of Harry Cunningham when coming up trumps against a Cyprus/Croatia select.
On a hugely competitive night of action last Friday, the County Antrim team won 12-4 – with JP Hale picking up the Harry Cunningham Memorial Cup for Best Boxer.
The Star man’s fan-friendly style means he is rarely in a bad fight, and it was no surprise when he came out on top after a war with Croatian number one, Ivan Bozic, at Belfast’s Balmoral Hotel.
The award for Best Away Boxer went to Cypriot Kambourikas Nicolas, who got the better of Clonard lightweight Declan Reynolds.
A fight night of such quality was a fitting tribute to a man who did so much to expose Irish boxers to the international scene.
Harry Cunningham gave 60 years of his life to the sport before sadly passing away in October 2020, and was a highly-regarded figure after providing a guiding hand for generations of up-and-coming County Antrim boxers.
Eoin Vaugh of Ormeau Road and Cypriot Rafael Pafios battle it out at the Balmoral Hotel on Friday night. PICTURE: MARK MARLOW
Boxing out of St Matthew’s as a youth, contesting at Ulster and national elite level, he coached at Short Strand before becoming Head Coach at Saints, where he quickly became known as ‘Mr Saints’.
Sons Liam and Harry jr – decorated operators in their own punching pomp – are carrying on the family tradition at the west Belfast club, and were on hand to present awards at Friday’s fight night.
Results (Co Antrim names first) – 66kg: Z McFall (Antrim) 0-5 J Skuliba (Cyprus); 54kg: E Burke (Phoenix) 0-5 P Moisi (Cyprus); 56kg: C Smyth (Immaculata) 5-0 C Polyviou (Cyprus); 60kg: C Moore: (Star) 5-0 H Ambdullatif (Cyprus); 60kg: R McMenamin (Downpatrick) 60kg: C Mc Dermott (St George’s) 5-0 R Dzomba (Croatia); 70kg: Z Nichol (Monkstown) 3-2 M Savvas (Cyprus); 71kg: F Ashton (BABA) 71kg: E Vaugh (Ormeau Road) 1-4 R Pafios (Cyprus); 75kg: R Cooley (St Agnes’) RSC> C Vasiliou (Cyprus); 60kg: D Reynolds (Clonard) 0-5 K Nicolas (Cyprus); 60kg: J O’Donnell (St George’s) 5-0 L Licul (Croatia); 65kg: JP Hale (Star) 5-0 I Bozac (Croatia); 75kg: L Hanna (Townland) 5-0 J Buzik (Croatia); 90kg: J Walker (Corpus Christi) RSC> T Ramlijak (Croatia). U19 55k: Zak Cole (Immaculata) bt J Dowds (Saints) 5-0
Meanwhile, the County Antrim 4-7s Championships get under way at Corpus Christi Boxing Club on Tuesday night.
The semi-final programme is as follows (7pm start) – B4 46kg: A Considine (Glengormley) v M McGarry (Holy Trinity); B4 46kg: M Longridge (Rathcoole) v J Brown (St Paul’s); B4 52kg: C Masterson (Clonard) v T Doherty (Glengormley); B4 52kg: C McCusker (Holy Trinity) v F Mooney (Banbridge); B4 57kg: C Nolan (Clonard) v M Mc Connell (Ardoyne); B4 57kg: L Connolly (Immaculata) v P Creighton (Evolution); B4 66kg: L Itoya (Star) v M McLaughlin (St Canice’s); B5 44kg: J McParland (St Monica’s) v C Burke (St Canice’s); B5 54kg: S O Neill (St Canice’s) v K Hyndman (Carrick); B5 60kg: O Brown (Star) v S Higgins (Oliver Plunkett); B6 60kg: J Rubery (North Down) v D McGuinness (St Monica’s); B6 63kg: A Scullion (Ardoyne) v N McCarthy (St George’s); B6 66kg: PJ Markey (SHBA) v K Dynes (Immaculata); B6 66kg: C Gillen (Phoenix) v B Magill (Larne); B7 63.5k: C Blair (Evolution) v L Wood (Cairn Lodge)