A STAGE that has been graced by Irish boxing legends from Barry McGuigan to Hugh Russell to Wayne McCullough and Carl Frampton will tremble to roar of the crowd once again as the next generation of fighters trade blows at the Ulster Hall on Saturday night.
Professional boxing returns to the BBC and Colm Murphy headlines the action at the iconic Bedford Street bearpit when he defends his Commonwealth Silver featherweight title against Kasimu Hamad Haji of Tanzania.
“He’ll be looking to make a name for himself and to win and then be asked back over for more fights,” said Murphy.
“But unfortunately for him he’s coming up against me and I’m not going to let him stop me.”
As the co-main event, John ‘The Kid’ Cooney defends his Celtic Super-Featherweight title against Welsh battler, Nathan Howells.
“I did well winning the Celtic title,” said Cooney.
“But I feel like I need to remind people how good I really am and this is a good fight to do that against a guy who is going to come to win and make me look better.”
Reigning IBF and IBO super-featherweight champion Anthony Cacace will give his expert analysis on the night and ‘The Apache’ will be joined in the studio by Commonwealth Games gold medallist Michaela Walsh.
The coverage is presented by BBC Sport NI’s Mark Sidebottom with Oisin Langan commentating on the undercard. Cruiserweight contender Tommy McCarthy will provide analysis from ringside, Nicola McCarthy will be ringside and one of the most distinctive voices in boxing, Jim Neilly, will commentate on the headline fights.
Ulster Hall, February 1, doors open 5.45pm, live on BBC iPlayer from 6.30pm, live on BBC2 NI from 9pm:
Featherweight: Colm Murphy (13-0) v Kasimu Hamad Haji (16-6-2)
BBBofC Celtic Super Featherweight title: John Cooney (11-0) v Nathan Howells (10-1-1)
Flyweight: Conor Quinn (9-1-1) v Ally Ngwando (10-2-2)
Super-bantamweight: Jack O’Neill (2-0) v Luke Fash (3-110-3)
Lightweight: Charles McDonagh (1-0) v Karl Sampson (7-43-1)
Super-featherweight: Teo Alin (2-0) v Brayan Mairena (15-53-1)
Welterweight: James Freeman (3-0) v Jacob Marrer (0-5)