Latest news with #all-Irish
The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Australia boss Joe Schmidt breaks his silence on Lions squad announcement before issuing rallying cry to home fans
WALLABY boss Joe Schmidt has weighed in on the 2025 Lions squad announcement. The former Ireland boss was speaking on 2 Australia boss Joe Schmidt weighed in on the Lions Squad before issuing a rallying cry to his fans 2 Joe Schmidt also reckons Andy Farrell's side may use international combinations for his starting XV test side Schmidt will But the ex- But he will officially then quit the Australia job to care for his son Luke, who battles severe Epilepsy. It means a new head coach will take charge for the end-of-year tour and lead the team into the World Cup on home soil. read more on rugby But ahead of the summer tour, Schmidt thinks 'Some of those combinations could be dangerous — especially if they go with an all-Irish front row to start. "Andrew Furlong with Tadhg Furlong, and Dan Sheehan in the middle of them, and you've got Luke Cowan-Dickie or Ronan Kelleher to come off the bench for them. "It could be an all-English front row to come on a replace them, Ellis Genge." Most read in Rugby Union When further quizzed about how he reckons how Farrell will select his starting XV in the test games, Schmidt added that it's a realistic possibility that the Ireland boss may stick with international combinations instead of chopping an changing. Schmidt added: "Potentially, especially if you're trying to fast-track things. "But at the same time they have a nice run in of those half-dozen game [The build up tour games]. Argentina and the games before the first test to test those combinations, if they want to tinker with a few things. The Aussie boss went on to issue a rally cry to their fans ahead of the upcoming series after being asked about the home side's supporters. He concluded: "We love that support that's built, even being at The Warriors game on Sunday - people coming up to us and saying, 'we''re 100% behind you. "It does give confidence to players, and a the same time the players are going to have to earn whatever you get from the crowd. "We're very conscious of that, those moments that matter, you earn it back behind the training fence. You earn it working on your cohesion and getting your performance habits as positively honed as you can. "What I'd say, 'bring your confidence and your voice, and we'll bring our energy and effort to try and keep you entertained, and also that we can be as competitive as we need to be."
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Caoimhin Agyarko ready for all-Irish clashes but Callum Walsh and Aaron McKenna fights stall
CAOIMHIN AGYARKO is ready to throw down in all-Irish derby fights with rising stars Callum Walsh and Aaron McKenna – but the Belfast boxer's plans have hit roadblocks this year. Agyarko, 28, revealed he was offered bouts with both 2 Caoimhin Agyarko celebrates after winning his WBA Continental super-welterweight bout against Troy Williamson 2 Agyarko says he was offered a bout against Cork sensation Callum Walsh but it fell through Cork's Walsh, 24, instead took on Scotland's Dean Sutherland in New York on St Patrick's weekend, knocking him out in one brutal round. Meanwhile, Monaghan's McKenna, 25, impressed against former world champ Liam Smith in a 12-round battle at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. On Walsh, Agyarko told The Rocky Road podcast: 'We asked for that fight for Madison Square Garden and they turned it down. 'Listen, I'm not going to say Callum turned it down, I don't like to say he turned it down. His manager just got back and said it was a fight for down the line. They were going on a different route and I respect that. read more on boxing 'I think Callum's a good fighter and it'll be a great fight in the future if we ever meet. He's young, up and coming, he's probably a contender now. 'I always respect all the fighters - no matter if they're Irish or not - but especially Irish fighters. I know how hard it is for us to try and make it in the world of boxing and I support all their journeys from afar. 'But if we ever meet, obviously it's business, not personal. 'Irish boxing is booming, you've got Pierce O'Leary, you've got Paddy Donovan, you've got Lewis Crocker, me, Callum Walsh, the McKenna brothers, you've got Gary Cully. Most read in Boxing "You've got Mick Conlan and Anto Cacace still flying the flag. Conor Wallace is on the verge of fighting for a world title as well. 'So Irish boxing is booming and it's great to see because we all kind of grew up together on the Irish scene together and to be all on our own journeys now, doing well, it's great to see how far we've all come.' Tommy Fury admits he was in a 'dark place' last year as he opens up on battles Agyarko's focus remains on becoming Ireland's first black world champion, and two wins in three weeks have bolstered his chances. First, he defeated Harley Collison at York Hall on March 30 before stepping in on short notice to outpoint Ryan Kelly in Nottingham – extending his record to 17-0. A clash with Britain's Ishmael Davis is next - on the Crocker-Donovan rematch in Belfast this autumn - likely leaving derbies until next year at least. On 'King' Callum, Agyarko added: 'I've got gloves and a gumshield and I will travel. Give me a date, I'm ready whenever. 'Well, his manager had said that his next few fights are going to be in LA or Vegas or whatever else and that fight only makes sense in Ireland. 'So I suspect that that's the route they're going to go down, to have a couple more fights in America. 'But listen, he's on his own journey and I'm on my own journey and if we meet, it'll be a great fight and a great fight for the Irish fight fans. 'I don't know him personally, but I wish him all the best on his journey and he keeps winning, I keep winning and we'll make a big fight down the line.' As for McKenna, Agyarko praised his rival's performance against Smith, saying: 'It was a great performance from Aaron, he stepped up to the plate against a world-class fighter in Liam Smith. A really classy, good performance. 'Beefy, I just think the inactivity killed him. He's been out of the ring, what, 18 months, two years? "And I think the inactivity against a young, fresh fighter like Aaron McKenna just showed on the night. But it was a real classy performance and he's a real talent.' Agyarko also addressed his own failed attempt to fight The Silencer earlier this year, adding: 'I accepted the fight for the Donovan Crocker first fight and he turned it down. 'They wanted me to come up to 160. I said, 'no problem'. Then they wanted me to come up to 164 and I said I'm not going up that far. 'They had said that they couldn't make middleweight and then they took the Liam Smith fight at middleweight. 'So, off the basis of that, I would say he would be moving up soon enough to 168. He might be struggling to make 160, but yeah, listen, I've unfinished business at 154. 'Until I win a world title at 154, I don't want to move back up to middleweight or until I achieve something like a European title or the weight gets hard for me to make, I don't want to go back up to 160. 'But career-wise, money-wise, if it made sense. I'm a fighting man. I'll fight anybody if it makes sense.'
BBC News
28-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Taylor-Serrano 3 at Croke Park 'unlikely'
Eddie Hearn admits it is "unlikely" that Croke Park will stage Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano's trilogy fight. Taylor, 38, edged out Puerto Rican star Serrano in a second classic contest in their rematch in Texas two months ago as the Irishwoman successfully defended her undisputed light-welterweight world Hearn has been attempting to set up a Taylor contest at the famous 82,000 capacity Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) stadium in Dublin for several years but has been unable to agree terms with GAA January, Hearn said he was determined to help Taylor achieve her ambition of fighting at Croke, but sounded more downbeat when asked on Friday. "I think it's unlikely that her next fight will be at Croke Park if I'm honest," Hearn told Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme."Because of the demand in America to see this fight, the next one could be Stateside. But we'll see." Hearn previously said Croke Park and Las Vegas bouts would "tick off the list of boxes for Katie Taylor"."Hopefully we can tick one of those boxes next, but even at this point I think Katie acknowledges that we're probably approaching the final chapter."She's given everything to this sport. She is one of the greatest individuals and greatest athletes, not just that Ireland's ever seen but the world has ever seen. "I'm very determined to make sure we can deliver all her dreams before she steps away from the sport."Hearn was speaking before Saturday night's card at the SSE Arena with Belfast's Lewis Crocker taking on Limerick's Paddy Donovan in the headline bout. "The atmosphere is very special here," Hearn added when asked about Belfast's rich history of boxing. "If you put an average show on you'll sell an average amount of tickets but the people here, they know their boxing and when there's a big event, they'll come, like they will tomorrow night."It is an all-Irish fight and the winner goes on to fight for a world title in the welterweight division, which has huge names like Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez and Jaron Ennis so this is a golden ticket for whoever can win tomorrow."
BBC News
26-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Crocker to box for 'all of Belfast' in Donovan bout
Lewis Crocker says support from "all" of his native Belfast will help him overcome Limerick man Paddy Donovan in the all-Irish IBF world welterweight eliminator on Saturday night. In the build-up to the contest at Belfast's SSE Arena, Donovan appeared to make a play for support from Belfast fight fans by reportedly referring to Crocker as being a "Rangers fan".Donovan's coach former world middleweight champion Andy Lee moved to "squash" the issue at the start of Wednesday's pre-fight press conference in Belfast."Paddy was asked about Lewis being a Rangers fan…..it was taken out of context in the headline," said Lee."That's not what it's about for us. These are two great fighters and you're in a for a treat."Crocker wasn't convinced by Lee's explanation. "He doesn't realise I represent all of Belfast. I'm from Sandy Row but I boxed for Holy Trinity," said Crocker, who like Donovan, has an unbeaten record going into the world title eliminator."It's not like that in Belfast – especially in sport. I think he knows he messed up and all of Belfast is behind me." 'Donovan meant to be superstar' The contest is a battle between two unbeaten fighters with Donovan's boxing skills making him a marginal favourite to add to his 14 career wins. However Crocker, who has won all his 20 fights and secured 11 knockout victories in the process, has vowed to end the Limerick man's unblemished record in emphatic fashion."My record will be 21 and 0 and with 12 KOs after Saturday believe me," added the 28-year-old."Paddy was signed by Matchroom before me and he's meant to be the next superstar but while he was fighting on big cards, I was out of the ring dealing with problems and I just slowly built my way back up here. He's in for the shock of his life on Saturday."Crocker added that sparring with former undisputed world light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor has helped prepare him for the challenge of taking on tricky southpaw meanwhile, has trained alongside New Zealand's former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in his build-up to Saturday's contest. "I'm in the best shape of my life. I've had an amazing camp with Joseph Parker and I'm ready now in Belfast to put on a show." First Belfast bill since Cooney death Saturday's bill be the first professional boxing card in Belfast since the tragic death of Galway fighter John Cooney earlier this month after he sustained an intracranial haemorrhage in a bill at the Ulster Eddie Hearn said the Cooney will be remembered at Saturday's bill which is already close to an 8,000 capacity sell-out."It's a sport that provides great opportunities for young people but it is a dangerous sport," added Hearn."Great fighters like John Cooney must always be remembered and we must always keep evolving as a sport. Saturday is a celebration of that sport which will be done in the right way."
