Mayfield Boxing Club stage a superb tournament

Last Saturday Mayfield Boxing Club organised an outstanding tournament which took place in the magnificent gym at the local community school.

This was a first class programme and the bill included 17 bouts. 

The host club lined out with 17 boxers who took on a selection of eight clubs who were drawn from all parts of the city and the county.

Boxing in Mayfield has a long tradition and this area of the city has always flown the flag for the sport, with great enthusiasm. 

The current club was organised in 2009 by Brian Cronin and Adibo Aigabloga and has enjoyed great success over many of those years. 

Mayfield has produced remarkable boxers who have distinguished themselves in the sport. 

The club at this year’s Cork County Boxing Championships last February, shared top spot with Charleville BC and two years prior to that, were the most successful club at the Cork championships. 

In 2017, Mayfield won the Victor J. Aston Cup as the top club of the year. 

On that occasion, the cup was presented to the club by the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Tony Fitzgerald. 

During his address the Lord Mayor paid tribute to the club as a bright beacon of sporting light in a great area of the city which has always enjoyed a great boxing history. 

On that night the club were also congratulated by Ireland’s first Olympic boxing gold medallist, Michael Carruth.

This was the first boxing tournament to take place in the locality in 40 years. 

Cork County Board secretary John Wiseman said: “the last occasion boxing took place in Mayfield was 1984, this was organised by the old club now defunct and took place in the old St John's School."

Once again, the current committee have returned with a superb tournament at a fantastic venue. 

Mayfield Boxing Club were highly commended by the president of the Cork County Board who ed with club three hours prior to the commencement of the first bout, and he saw first-hand the great organisation and attention to detail the club had applied to ensure the success of this tournament.

The huge hall at the Mayfield complex was, through proper planning converted into a spacious boxing auditorium for the day, there was tremendous seating capacity, ample car parking for all with many well appointed stewards in high vis jackets operating both outside and inside the hall.

The Chief Official was John Casey and the boxing menu served some cracking contests where the match making insured all patrons enjoyed an afternoon of very competitive sport. 

The top boxer of the tournament was Anthony McCarthy.

Once again Mayfield Boxing Club have raised the bar to another level. 

They have succeeded in continuing to promote the sport and develop the club.

This club are now commencing their 16th season. 

Their work on behalf of sport is well appreciated in the community. 

Former Lord Mayor Cllr. Joe Kavanagh has on numerous occasions in the council chamber congratulated the club on their achievements.

Club head coach Brian Cronin has on behalf of the club expressed his gratitude to the club sponsors and benefactors. 

He also paid tribute for the great assistance through providing training facilities for the club over many years, to the Mayfield East Community Association who have made their hall available to the club. 

Reflecting on the success of last weekend’s tournament, club coach and Pro, Peter Higgins said this.

“Mayfield Boxing Club is an inherent part of the community, we set standards for our athletes, we instill the value of sporting endeavour, and we strive to achieve the highest results at all times, but fundamentally we encourage our boxers to enjoy the sport, and always to represent their club and the community in a very competitive but dignified manner."

Mayfield Boxing Club is currently served by a very hard-working committee, who all contribute to the success enjoyed by the club, included in the group are Adibo Aigabloga, Gareth Fitzgerald, Peter Higgins, Jim Stanton and Brian Cronin. 

Mayfield BC are a very ambitious and progressive unit well respected within the Irish Athletic Boxing Association.

Meanwhile, the next two club tournaments in this very proactive year will be organised by the Glen BC and St Colman's BC, who are celebrating their 40th anniversary.

Both of these events will take place in November.

Elsewhere, Blackpool was buzzing last Sunday night after Glen Rovers won the senior A hurling championship and now return to the top table. Amongst the first to congratulate them was the Glen Boxing Club, who share a great affinity with the hurlers for well over one hundred years.

In 1934, 90 years ago, Glen Rovers approached the Glen Boxing Club, requesting a boxing trainer to assist with their physical fitness, the boxing club obliged and Michael O’Brien went on to train the Glen to win eight counties in a row, and many more after that.

Down through the years many hurlers have boxed with the Glen.

Last January the Glen hurlers once again approached the Glen Boxing Club requesting assistance in the physical build up. 

Tom Kelleher and Anthony Connolly were delighted to assist, and Blackpool sporting history repeated itself. 

A great follower of this column is Mary Martin, her son Liam is chairman of Glen Rovers and her late husband John, was chairman of the Glen Boxing Club. 

Mary Martin is a true Glen woman who knows the real meaning of the green, black and gold.