RHYS Owens added to his burgeoning reputation with victory over Commonwealth Games gold medallist Dylan Eagleson in Saturday’s Ulster elite finals at Girdwood Community Hub.
The Erne ace, who was out to defend the lightweight title won last year, had his hand raised at the end of a close battle with Eagleson, making that Irish and Ulster titles won in the past three months – as well as a place in the Irish High Performance elite squad.
Few hate to lose more than Eagleson but, when the dust settles, the Bangor man will realise the significance of getting back between the ropes after a frustrating 15 months out due to injury.
Considering it is just over two months since he underwent minor surgery on his troublesome right hand, returning to the ring so soon is achievement in itself.
Eagleson’s future undoubtedly lies at 57kg, rather than 60kg, where Owens – later named boxer of the tournament - continues to reign supreme.
Down at his more traditional featherweight, meanwhile, Jamie Graham produced a masterclass in his first fight at elite level – following in the footsteps of grandfather by claiming the 57kg crown.
Clonard legend Paddy Graham was 18 when he won his first Ulster senior title at flyweight, before proving successful at the weight above the following year. That was way back in 1967 and, 58 years on, Jamie was the same age as he showed his class to force a third round stoppage of North Down’s Casey Walsh.
Caprice Coiley made it a double celebration for the west Belfast club when she beat Holy Trinity’s Janssen Hill at 66kg.
Holy Trinity, meanwhile, came away with four new champions on finals day.
There was revenge for Jon McConnell as the 22-year-old landed a second Ulster light-middleweight title in three years after getting the better of Matthew McCole.
McCole caused a bit of an upset 12 months ago when he beat McConnell on the same stage but, coming into these championships, McConnell promised to right that wrong; big talk, but he did just that, following on from victory over McCole’s Illies GG club-mate Cahir Gormley on Thursday to add another scalp.
Kyle Smith gave the Turf Lodge club further cause for celebration when he took the middleweight crown, beating the experienced Eoghan Quinn of St John’s, Swatragh on a 4-1 split, while new recruit Kaci Rock – daughter of former pro fighter Jim – proved too strong for Corpus Christi’s Ella McDonald.
Diarmuid Bradley received a walkover win at 54kg, following the withdrawal of Immaculata’s Karl Reilly. However, Clepson dos Santos was unable to contest his eagerly-anticipated flyweight final against Scott Thompson, so the Spartans teenager walked away with the crown.
Gianni Richmond showed the progress he has made since last year’s Ulster final defeat to Cahir Gormley as he took a 4-1 split decision win over Erne’s Anthony Malanaphy – claiming the Most Improved Boxer award to cap off a memorable week for the Cairn Lodge man.
Glengormley’s Ciara Craig edged to a 3-2 win over Catrina Moore at 60kg, Ryan Murphy (St Monica’s) did the business again with a unanimous decision victory against Conor McKernan, while Garyn McAllister got the better of Colm McCorry in the heavyweight decider.
There was success for JP Hale too as he became a five-time Ulster elite champion - the first in the history of his club, Star. Hale took the 63.5kg title on a walkover after no other fighters entered his division, although the 23-year-old won his special contest against Luke Hall (Rochfortsbridge).
Results
Special contests
48kg: L Rooney (Star) bt A Bozkaya (East Meath) 5-0
54/57kg: N Clyde (Antrim) bt C McCrudden (Emerald) 5-0
63.5kg: JP Hale (Star) bt L Hall (Rochfortsbridge) 5-0
Finals
51kg: S Thompson (Spartans) w/o C dos Santos (Holy Trinity)
54kg: D Bradley (Holy Trinity) w/o K Reilly (Immaculata)
57kg: J Graham (Clonard) bt C Walsh (North Down) RSC3
60kg: C Craig (Glengormley) bt C Moore (Emerald) 3-2
60kg: R Owens (Erne) bt D Eagleson (St Paul’s) 5-0
63kg: K Rock (Holy Trinity) bt E McDonald (Corpus Christi) 5-0
66kg: C Coiley (Clonard) bt J Hill (Holy Trinity) 5-0
67kg: G Richmond (Cairn Lodge) bt A Malanaphy (Erne) 4-1
71kg: J McConnell (Holy Trinity) bt M McCole (Illies GG) 4-1
75kg: K Smyth (Holy Trinity) bt E Quinn (St John’s) 4-1
80kg: R Murphy (St Monica’s) bt C McKernan (Castleblayney) 5-0
92kg: G McAllister (Holy Family) bt C McCorry (Immaculata) 5-0
