Cork Boxing: Golden Gloves Boxing Club stage first senior boxing tournament

On Saturday last, the Golden Gloves Boxing Club hosted the first Cork boxing tournament of the new season.

The event took place at the St Vincent’s GAA complex, and provided followers of the noble art with some very competitive bouts. 

Once again, the emphasis was on senior boxing and following last year’s outstanding Cork results, the Cork County Board has encouraged all clubs to develop senior boxing within their clubs.

Head coach with the Golden Gloves BC John Morrissey said he was pleased with last weekend’s opening tournament. 

He itted that he was committed to bringing major honours to his club again this year. 

Over the last three years, Morrissey has led the way in Cork boxing parlance. 

Even those and they are very few who would begrudge him his success would have to acknowledge his monumental achievements over the last couple of years.

Morrissey’s ethos comprises of dedication, commitment to achieve, and belief in one’s own ability to succeed. 

This philosophy has worked wonders for the former international elite boxer. 

In recent times, his club has won the Victor J. Aston Cup, which is the silver symbol of Cork boxing supremacy presented to the top Cork club of the year. 

Morrissey was named Cork Boxing Coach of the Year and he delivered five national adult championships for Cork, two elite, two senior and one novice national championship.

In addition, Morrissey is acutely aware of developing underage boxing and the atmosphere created in the club, amongst younger boxers, is testament to their enthusiasm to achieve as champions and proud of the very successful Golden Gloves Club.

Last Saturday’s tournament was the first amongst a number planned by the club for the coming season. 

There were many great bouts of very competitive action enjoyed by an attendance who expressed delight at the standard of boxing.

Amongst the attendance was John O’Neill. 

John was an outstanding coach in his day. 

He gave trojan service to the promotion and development of the South Parish Boxing Club during the 1970’s, eighties and nineties. 

John was honoured for his contribution to Cork Boxing at a Boxing Breakfast three years ago and he continued to show a great interest in the sport.

Others present included Cork professional boxers Tommy Hyde and Cathal Crowley, both of these young men were magnificent amateur boxers. They continue to be a credit to the sport and are a great example to young aspiring boxers in all clubs. 

Both Tommy and Cathal presented some of the medals at the tournament and they were well received by the audience, many of whom are followers of these magnificent Cork boxing ambassadors.

Following the completion of 16 very competitive bouts of boxing, the Boxer of the Tournament Award was presented to BB Long.

This award was dedicated to the memory of Sophie Healy, the young double All-Ireland champion who ed away recently.

The Golden Gloves Club also made a presentation to the family in memory of the much-loved Sophie, who will always remain in the hearts and minds of northside boxing people.

The attendance gave a very gracious and respectful round of applause; the family were represented by Sophie’s grandad Dave and by his grandson and granddaughter.

This was a magnificent and timely gesture on behalf of the Golden Gloves Boxing Club.

Elsewhere, last week that great northside boxing warrior Billy Deasy died suddenly. 

Billy affectionately known as ‘The Dawsey’ was a long time very prominent member of the Cork Ex-Boxers Association.

He was very proud of his hip of that organisation. 

He ed the boxing group in 1974, and spoke recently of his proud 50 year association with the former boxers. 

Billy was a very unassuming and quite man; however, he was well skilled in the art of conversation and had great banks of memory, having the capacity to recall in detail many of Cork’s most famous boxing bouts, which took place down through the years.

The late Mr Deasy was in his day a very successful boxer. 

He boxed with among others the Sunnyside Boxing Club. 

Billy was a county champion on four occasions and was the holder of two senior Munster championship titles.

Shandon Street has often been referred to as the boxing boulevard. 

Billy Deasy was the essence and spirit of that location. 

He lived there, socialized there, and shopped on the framed gateway to Cork’s northside. 

During his years as a member of CEBA, Cork Ex-Boxers Association, Billy was a regular visitor to the National Stadium in Dublin. 

He was also a constant at Cork boxing championships. 

He held the position of vice president of CEBA. 

At his funeral mass, Billy’s coffin was draped with their famous flag, and a guard of honour was provided by his former colleagues.

The sympathy of all Cork boxing followers was extended to the Deasy family.