Lee & McCullough lead Irish
boxers into “Erin Go Brawl II”
February 13, 2009
NEW YORK (February 13, 2009) – Many of
the leading Irish and Irish-American boxers in the world will gather St.
Patrick’s Day Eve (Monday, March 16), including 2004 Olympian Andy Lee
and former WBC bantamweight champion Wayne “Pocket Rocket” McCulough, to
fight on the “Erin Go Brawl II” card, presented by Irish Ropes
Promotions at WaMu Theater in the famed Madison Square Garden.
Top middleweight prospect Lee (16-1, 13 KOs) will headline against
3-time world title challenger Antwun “Kid Dynamite” Echols (31-9-4, 27
KOs) in the 10 round main event. Although he hails from Limerick,
Ireland, Lee fights out of the legendary Kronk Gym in Detroit and is
trained by Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward. Echols is a past
multi-regional champion who holds wins against former world champion
Charles Brewer, Kabrey Salem, Ross Thompson and has fought Bernard
Hopkins twice and Anthony Mundine.
Belfast-native McCullough, fighting out of Las Vegas, captured a Silver
Medal at the 1992 Olympics. The veteran super bantamweight is in the
10-round co-feature against an opponent to be determined.
“The show goes on and, I promise you, ‘Erin Go Brawl II’ is going to be
a spectacular show,” Irish Ropes president Eddie McLoughlin said. “Andy
Lee is headlining and a living legend, Wayne McCullough, is in the
co-feature. We have a lot of other exciting young Irish fighters in this
card.”
Former Irish and Australian national amateur champion, undefeated light
welterweight Dean “Irish Lightning” Byrne (10-4, 4 KOs), is also
fighting in an 8 round bout. Byrne, training in Los Angeles under
Freddie Roach, is a native of Crumlin, Ireland.
Scheduled to fight in 6-rounders are Irish featherweight champion
Patrick “Pajo” Hyland (15-0, 8 KOs), of Dublin; Philadelphia by way of
Galway middleweight “Slick Fightin’ Irish” Simon O’Donnell (8-1, 5 KOs);
Limerick light heavyweight Jamie Power (4-0, 2 KOs) versus Reggie
“Concrete” LaCrete (4-0-2, 3 KOs), from Brooklyn; Chicago by way of
County Mayo light middleweight Henry “Western Warrior” Coyle (9-1, 8
KOs), 2005 World Military Games champion; Jersey City super
featherweight Danny “Little Mac” McDermott (6-1-1, 2 KOs).
Also on the card in 4 round matches are Massachusetts light welterweight
Danny O’Connor (3-1, 1 KO), 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate; Brooklyn
featherweight Sadam Ali (1-0, 1 KO), 2008 U.S. Olympian.
Tickets went on sale today and are priced at $50.00, $75.00, $100.00,
$150.00, $200.00, $300.00 and $400.00. Tickets are available at
TicketMaster.com as well as Jack Demsey’s in Manhattan, Hilltop in
Elmhurst and the Heritage in Yonkers.
For more information call Irish Ropes Promotions (212.868.9543) or go on
line to irishropespromotions.
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Andy Lee: “March 16, St. Patrick’s Day eve – big fight, big Irish show.
There are a lot of good Irish fighters on the show like Hyland and
Byrne. I’m honored to be sharing the card with one of my heroes, Wayne
McCullough, starting when he was in the Olympics and as a pro. He’s been
like a mentor to me, always helping me. It’s like I’m being reintroduced
in America. I lost my last fight in America and came back strong in my
last fight (in Ireland), knocking out Willie Gibbs. I took some time off
last year to het my eye heal, If I win this and a few more I should be
in the top 10 and knocking on the door for a world title fight.”
Emanuel Steward: “I’m very happy to be here to be part of this show. I
always celebrated St. Patrick’s Day Eve in Detroit at O’Halloran’s. But
it’s closed, so this year I’m going to stay here an extra day and
celebrate with al of the Irish here. There’s a lot of Irish going on and
that’s good for boxing. Going back to Wayne, then there was a lull until
Andy in 2004 (Olympics). He was the star of Irish boxing. There’s in
influx of Irish amateurs – a new generation of Irish fighters – and
that’s good for boxing. Andy and John (Duddy) started it coming over
here I think that will continue for the next 10 years. Irish fans are
the best in the world and they’re spread all over the place. I was
raised in an Irish neighborhood. They really support their athletes.
It’s going to be a great show in a strong boxing city, especially after
what Irish Ropes did with John Duddy to get everything going. In
addition to being Andy’s manager and trainer, I like watching him fight.
We have three more fights planned after this one and by the end of the
year he should be fighting for a world title.”
Wayne McCullough (via video conferencing): “I’m thankful that Irish
Ropes and Cedric Kushner for bringing me to the East Coast. I fought
there (1998 in Atlantic City) against Naseem Hamed and I fought Daniel
Zaragoza in Boston in 1997. My second fight was at Madison Square Garden
(WKO3 vs. Sergio Ramirez in 1993). I look forward to returning there.
I’m back! I want to get a few fights and hopefully, working with Irish
Ropes and Cedric Kushner, fight for a title later this year. It’s going
to be great fighting on St. Patrick’s Day Eve in New York City, it’s
been a dream, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Danny O’Connor: “I’m excited to come to New York City. I was asked about
fighting on a show close to my home (Massachusetts), but I said
absolutely not, I want to fight on the St. Patrick’s Day Eve be show in
New York City. I’m happy things were finalized and I’m on this card. I
went to and Irish Ropes show in Boston and it was amazing. The fans were
so loud I couldn’t hear the person seated next to me. I can’t imagine
what it’s going to be like fighting here March 16. I can’t focus on it
right now because I have a fight February 27th (ESPN in Florida). Once
that’s cool I’ll be able to concentrate 100-percent on March 16. I can’t
wait to showcase my talents in Madison Square Garden.”
Sadam Ali: “This will be my first fight in Manhattan in my second fight.
It’s going to be great to be here.” Source/PR - Published on WBAN.
