McDonald crowned National Super Bantamweight champ
CARL McDonald fulfilled a life-long goal when he beat Dylan McDonagh to capture the BUI Ireland National Super Bantamweight belt in their decider in Good Counsel GAA Club on Saturday.
In what was an all-Tallaght affair, the two boxers went toe-to-toe for ten rounds with McDonagh making arguably the better start before McDonald began to gain a foothold in the second half.
Carl McDonald
TNT boxer McDonald had, earlier this year, beaten Colin O’Donovan to land the BUI Celtic Featherweight strap and he was determined to make it a double before the year was out.
Speaking to The Echo after his victory on Saturday, he said: “I was over the moon when I got the decision. I’m living my wildest dream.
“To win that Irish title and especially that one, that Paulie Hyland held, was very special and gave me extra motivation.
“He [McDonagh] brought a lot more to the table than I expected. I thought I could easily outbox him, but whatever he worked on, he upset my rhythm. I found him very awkward.
“There as a lot of head clashes and that upset us both, but I just had to bite down on the gum shield and keep going.
“I made a slow start, but I came on strong from the sixth round onwards and I had no problem going the distance,” he said.
For McDonagh who was coming into this title fight having won three of his opening four professional bouts, it was a bitterly disappointing result given all that he had committed to his preparation for it.
“It was heart-breaking to see that title taken away from me” he said. “I had made a lot of sacrifices for this fight.
“I was happy with my performance and I wasn’t. I kind of got drawn into his [McDonald’s] game plan when I had a different one,” he admitted.
Still, there is every possibility that the two fighters could go at it again in 2019 having both played their part in a super battle.
Certainly McDonagh would relish another crack at the prize saying “I would love a rematch. He [Carl] is a lovely fella and I have a lot of respect for him. Maybe we could do it in the new year. Perhaps go 12 rounds” he laughed.
And McDonald, himself, is not adverse to another showdown adding, “I would have no problem with a re-match.
“It was a great fight, two Irish warriors going at it. But now I’ll just enjoy the Christmas with my family, I’ll just see what my team wants me to do in the new year.”
The win also capped a great night for TNT who recorded another victory on the card when Siobhan O’Leary marked her professional debut with a first-round stoppage of her super featherweight opponent Klaudia Csaszar from Hungary.
