BoxingUK

Dublin Undercard Recap: Irish Boxing Eyes are Smiling

The fans filling Croke Park were full of song and enthusiasm for a once in a lifetime boxing event.

Gayle Falkenthal, Boxing Editor
Gayle Falkenthal, Boxing Editor
9 Min Read
Although there were winners and losers, nearly every fighter on the card including friends Paddy Donovan and Tyrone McKenna were all smiles at Croke Park on Saturday. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing
Although there were winners and losers, nearly every fighter on the undercard including friends Paddy Donovan and Tyrone McKenna were all smiles at Croke Park on Saturday. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing Paddy Donovan (gold shorts) celebrates after beating Tyrone McKenna.
by Gayle Falkenthal, Boxing Editor

What to Know

  • Undercard fighters in support of the farewell performance of Katie Taylor at Croke Park in Dublin used the opportunity to perform in front of a massive audience even short of its 80,000 person capacity.
  • The co-main event came to a sudden and shocking halt as Thomas Carty flew through the ropes out of the ring just 90 seconds into the fight with Dave Allen.
  • Irish fans cheered on their local fighters to mixed results, with wins for Paddy Donovan, Adam Olaniyan, and Paul Ryan.

Irish fans and their friends (including one American reporter) were in fine voice and thrilled to be the center of the boxing universe on Saturday at Croke Park in Dublin. They watched local prospects and British talent in the ring do their best to take advantage of the massive audience.

Contents

Bizarre Ending to Heavyweight Co-Main Event

Thomas Carty certainly never imagined he'd end up on the floor of Croke Park Saturday night. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing
Thomas Carty certainly never imagined he’d end up on the floor of Croke Park Saturday night.
Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Dublin’s own Thomas Carty and popular British heavyweight Dave Allen had no title at stake, merely the bragging rights of a win in front of 80,000 fans.

But the Carty Party ended the fight just 90 seconds after the opening bell.

After trading several punches, Carty threw a punch evaded by Allen. Carty went to hold, but Allen moved and Carty could not get a grasp on him. The forward momentum carried Carty straight through the ropes and out of the ring, landing with a thud on the floor.

Fighters are given a limited amount of time to get back into the ring. An astronished Allen watched as Carty wasn’t able to get up. The fight was stopped officially at 1:26 of the first round, and declared a no-contest.

Paddy Donovan Pummels Tyrone McKenna

Paddy Donovan made it a quick night against his longtime friend and sparring partner Tyrone McKenna. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing Croke Park undercard
Paddy Donovan made it a quick night against his longtime friend and sparring partner Tyrone McKenna. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

In one of the most anticipated fights on the undercard, IBF top-ranked welterweight Paddy Donovan of Limerick (15-2, 12 KOs) had the fight well in hand against his longtime friend and sparring partner Tyrone McKenna of Belfast (25-7-1, 8 KOs) from the beginning of the fight.

Donovan scored a knockdown in the second round. McKenna got up quickly, and he regrouped well but continued to take hard shots from a confident Donovan.

McKenna suffered a serious cut over his right eye in the fourth round, and when the referee moved in to stop the fight, McKenna didn’t make a peep of protest over it, giving Donovan a fourth-round TKO in what was admittedly a stay-busy fight. Still, without a doubt, it was the largest crowd to ever see Donovan ringside, even in a half-full Croke Park.

Donovan is now on the fast track for a title challenge in 2027.

So much was made of Emmet Brennan of Dublin (6-1, 1 KO) appearing on the undercard. He grew up just a few blocks away from Croke Park. A banner hung over the local pub wishing Brennan well on Saturday. But he simply could not stand up to the punishment being dished out by talented prospect Taylor Bevan of Southampton (10-0, 9 KOs). Bevan had too much firepower for a brave Brennan, who rose again and again.

After the fourth knockdown to start the sixth round, Brennan should have ended the night. Instead, he was allowed to continue, got dropped immediately on a vicious shot face down, and the punishment finally ended at 36 seconds of the sixth round. Brennan had to be helped from the ring.

Paddy Pimblett watches the action ringside and got a warm welcome from the Croke Park fans. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing Croke Park undercard
Paddy Pimblett watches the action ringside and got a warm welcome from the Croke Park fans. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Molly McCann of London (5-0, 1 KO) is improving in every bout in her transition from mixed martial arts. She had little trouble with Sylwie Doligala of Yorkshire (8-3-2), winning a dominant eight-round decision. Scores were 80-72, 80-72, and 79-73.

McCann had hoped for a knockout win and was a bit hard on her performance, but still pleased to get the victory. Four fights in a year, I think I’m doing well. It was a step up. I handled myself, I done well.”

“She’s on the platform because she deserves the platform,” said Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn, who plans to move the super bantamweight up to ten rounds as she moves forward.

Super bantamweight Joe McGrail of Liverpool (14-0, 7 KOs) performed well on a big stage, taking out Matthew Boreland of Northern Ireland (7-1, 2 KOs) behind a series of vicious body shots for the fifth-round knockout win.

“Got him in the end, happy with the finish. I knew he was tough and game, but I’m tough and game as well,” said McGrail, the younger brother of Peter McGrail. “Another body shot finish. That’s why they call me the body snatcher!”

Promoter Eddie Hearn said he feels McGrail is ready to step up and contend for domestic titles. “The fans are going to enjoy watching him fight. He’s very heavy-handed.”

Young Irish heavyweight Adam Olaniyan of Tallaght, Ireland (4-0, 4 KOs), made it four for four, quickly crushing opponent Matej Hudak of Czechia (6-3, 6 KOs) in just one round. Here’s hoping Olaniyan stays busy and makes an appearance in the U.S. as he builds his record, experience, and fan base.

In the opening bout, a shocking upset victory turned out to be a mistake. While Paddy Gallagher of Belfast (17-7-1, 10 KOs) was originally given credit for the win with a referee score of 58-55 and his arm raised, it was Paul Ryan of Dublin (12-2, 4 KOs) who had the winning scorecard in the middleweight fight. Following the next bout, Ryan was brought back into the ring to receive his acknowledgment.

Gallagher fans sitting a few feet away from me who celebrated his victory were nearly as devastated as Gallagher. To top it off, it was the second time the same thing had happened to the Belfast man.

Bobbi Flood of Dublin (4-0, 2 KOs) gave the home fans a decision win over Jack Swallow (4-14-1, 1 KO) of Derbyshire, England by referee score of 40-36.

 

 

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ByGayle Falkenthal, Boxing Editor
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Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist with more than four dozen awards for both written and video coverage from the Boxing Writers Association of America, Society of Professional Journalists, and San Diego Press Club, where she is the past president. She is the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the BWAA. She is the Boxing Editor for NY Fights based in San Diego, California.

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