MUHAMMAD Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Tyson Fury are just some of the names who have graced the ring at the Mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden.
On Sunday (16 March), Castlewellan’s Donagh Keary will join that exclusive list when he walks out at The Theater to face Puerto- Rican fighter Geral Alicea-Romero as part of the biggest Irish boxing card in the history of New York city.
It’s a fight Keary and his long-time coach and now co-manager, Bobby Lavery, have been preparing for since the 20-year-old turned pro in November of last year after losing on a judges’ decision in the Irish Elite final.
Defeat in Dublin deprived the Castlewellan fighter of the chance to fight for a world amateur title at the Elite Boxing Championships in Liverpool.
Lavery, who first encountered the talented young boxer when he walked into the Rathfriland CC ABC gym at the age of 14, says the decision to award the Irish Elite title to Ratoath’s Gavin Ryan made up his mind about Keary turning professional.
“It was a very, very close contest and I honestly thought our hand should have been raised.
“We were asking the question why and I just don’t think they (amateur judges) like his style, because he has this type of professional style in terms of his boxing.”
In the full story Bobby explains how Donagh has prepared for his first professional fight.
