One last push, the bait that makes this brutal sport beautiful. In some ways it was the theme of the night at this St. Patrick’s Day show. Patrons got their money’s worth earlier in the bill as two Irish stalwarts came out on opposite sides of narrow scorecards.
An entertaining night of boxing was building towards one grandstand Castlebar crescendo until it fell completely flat.
In a glaringly one-sided fight, Dillian Whyte made a victorious comeback to the ring with a three-round victory over Christian Hammer.
Whyte had been cleared to return to the sport after a positive drug test recorded ahead of a scheduled bout with Anthony Joshua last August was confirmed to have been caused by a contaminated supplement.
The 35-year-old had his arm raised after his opponent failed to get off his stool for the fourth round. There were bemused murmurs in the TF Royal Theatre and a splattering of applause, in sharp contrast to the electric atmosphere that greeted the heavyweights to the stage.
Ray Moylette jolted the home support in the second-last match as he laboured to a scorecard decision against Reuquen Cona Facundo Arce. A left hook sent the hometown favourite to the canvas in the second. He rose up to grind out a 77-76 triumph.
In an unfortunate premonition, the Mayo fighter pleaded with the crowd to stay for the main event.
“Lads, we have a top heavyweight in the west of Ireland,” Moylette declared over the ringside mic. “This is called Once Upon a Time in the West. This is a story. This is the biggest fight that was ever in the west of Ireland. A boxing Hall of Famer.
“Show your support. This is only possible because people made it. Ye are the people who made it. Please stay here. Show your appreciation for a top heavyweight boxer.”
‘The Body Snatcher’ walked out to the sound of the Jaws soundtrack and a merry spectator howling to the moon from the balcony. One spark would have instigated fireworks in the bleachers. That did not transpire.
Later Whyte would label the now 27-11 Hammer, who has been beaten by the likes of Joe Joyce, Tyson Fury, Alexander Povetkin and Luis Ortiz, a coward. Even as a tune-up, the scrap was substandard. Whyte was slow early on and wild just before the premature finish. He was still streets ahead.
Boxing’s twisted meritocracy ensures fighters like him serve a function. It was an outing designed to instigate Whyte’s ambition for one final world title shot. He had to tick the box.
One last push, the bait that makes this brutal sport beautiful. In some ways it was the theme of the night at this St. Patrick’s Day show. Patrons got their money’s worth earlier in the bill as two Irish stalwarts came out on opposite sides of narrow scorecards.
In 2018, Moylette brought professional boxing back to his hometown for the first time in six years. It ended in crushing disappointment.
As an amateur he twice came close to representing Ireland in the Olympics and twice missed out. Originally Sunday night was promoted as his farewell showing, but the prospect of a place on the undercard of Katie Taylor’s upcoming show might change that.
“I’ve no decision made yet. I’m going to enjoy my night now,” is as much as he would disclose.
Cork’s Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan is still swinging. The man wants more. They always do. The 39-year-old went down to French middleweight Sofiane Khati 77-76. He trains in the same gym as Moylette and BUI Celtic Heavyweight Champion Thomas Carty, who elevated his record to 8-0 (7 KOs) with a win over Pavel Sour.
The Celtic Warrior crew roared Moylette on for his fight and they were there to support O’Sullivan through the aftermath of his. It was his first defeat as a pro in Ireland. Everyone who has beaten him before the game Khati was a world champion.
This was his first appearance since defeat to Erislandy Lara for the WBA Regular Middleweight title at the Barclays Centre in New York in May 2022. He had no complaints whatsoever with the verdict, but it still stings. That showed.
“I don’t know. Am I the oldest fighter in the country,” he asked out loud. “I felt good though. I felt sharp in sparring. I didn’t spar much. The sparring I did I felt quite fit. I only had four weeks.
“I don’t want to make any excuses at all. I think I can improve on that with a longer camp and do better than I did tonight. I don’t want to retire right now.”
Up-and-coming Cork boxer Cathal Crowley steered O’Sullivan through the press area post-fight and stood in to advise the array of videographers that occupy this space to come together and do one combined hit rather than several prolonged ones.
As he finished the interview, he thanked those present for their coverage and support. A friend at the nearby bar spotted him and extended a consolatory hug.
The fact that he took part in the fight of the night will prove no comfort. At one point in the sixth, the referee started to fidget seemingly on the verge of stepping in.
Instead, O’Sullivan planted his feet and smashed Khati back into the ropes. Such spirit has become his calling card and was evident throughout a taxing affair.
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