Inishowen Gateway Hotel to host Boxing Feast

Local boxing fans are in for a treat this Thursday when the Buncrana Amateur Boxing Club host the second annual Dr Denis McLaughlin Memorial Tournament in tribute to their former club doctor who passed away in February of last year. Dr Denis had been the clubs doctor since its formation 40 years ago. The Buncrana club’s talented team of boxers will take on an Ulster Select at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in what promises to be an entertaining night. The town’s boxing club formed a new committee and, after a number of years in the wilderness, began to host shows again including the one in the newly built hall at the Buncrana Youth Club in Castle Avenue where they are based. Thursday’s tournament is their biggest of the calender however and their boxers have been training hard under the tutelage of experienced head coach Angelo Eccles. Club secretary Ann Doherty took time out from her busy preparations of the show to speak to the Inish Times about the event. “Everyone is very excited about the show,” she said. It’s a chance for local people to pay tribute to and remember Dr Denis for all the work he did for Buncrana and it’s an honour for our club to be organizing it.” “It is a special event for his family, his wife Joan is looks forward to it all year and his daughter Catherine travels from Scotland to attend it.” 14 bouts are down for decision on the night with Buncrana favourites the Doherty Brothers (Christopher, Patrick and Jack) and the Eccles brother (David and Gerard) included on the bill. The curtain raising fight of the night will feature the debut of exciting 8 year old prospect Derek Doherty whose all action style has seen him nicknamed ‘Tyson’ at their gym. As well as the boxing, local dance group Studio 47 fresh from their silver medal winning performance at the National Hip Hop Championships in Mayo will perform a specially choreographed boxing themed dance routine during the interval. The tickets for the tournament are selling fast and are priced at €7 for adults and €5 for U16s and patrons pay at the door. Tickets can be purchased from Ann @ 086 3238437 or Angelo @ 0877822848 or any committee member. The tournament will take place on Thursday 8th April at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel with doors opening at 7.30pm and first fight scheduled for 8pm