Dennis Lafferty (red) will be in action at the Raphoe ABC tournament
PAUL ‘Dudey’ McCloskey and Eamon ‘King’ O’Kane will be among the special guests on Saturday night at Deele College, Raphoe, where the Raphoe Amateur Boxing Club hosts an all-star night of boxing with the proceeds going to The Christian McCullagh Fund, in aid of Christian, son of Raphoe ABC head coach Gary McCullagh.
In 2012 Christian had a kidney transplant and earlier this year underwent open heart surgery while he requires further bladder surgery in the coming weeks. He received a kidney from his father and all at the Raphoe club are rowing in behind this huge tournament in aid of a remarkable young man.
British and European light-welterweight champion and World championship contender McCloskey is making the trip and his fellow Dungiven man O’Kane, holder of the Irish middleweight belt, the IBF Inter-Continental and WBC Inter-Continental titles will also be in attendance, as will Letterkenny man Jason Black, who conquered Everest, while former Donegal Person of the Year Hugh Gallagher is another special guest who has confirmed his attendance.
Raphoe ABC will have ten boxers in action on the night, including recently-crowned Ulster champion Oran Devine, as well as Liam McMonagle, Brendan Boyle, Conor Coll, Ryan McCullagh, Dennis Lafferty, Danny Duggan, Patrick Friel and Gerard Crawford.
Convoy trio Bryan McNamee, Kenan Gibson and Mark Lafferty make the short journey while Letterkenny’s Aaron Doherty, Patrick McConigley and the high-flying Stephen Doherty will compete as will the Ward brothers from Bluestack ABC, Charlie and Terence.
Thirteen contests have been confirmed, while the club’s match-makers are hoping to secure a fourteenth. The first bout will get underway at 8pm and patrons are advised to be in their seats early.
39kgs Liam McMonagle (Raphoe) v Oran Gethins (Manorhamilton)
50kgs Brendan Boyle (Raphoe) v Aaron Kelly (Dunree)
46kgs Oran Devine (Raphoe) v Charlie Ward (Bluestack)
57kgs Conor Coll (Raphoe) v Charlie Duffy (Dunree)
57kgs Bryan McNamee (Convoy) v Aaron Gethins (Ballinacarrow)
54kgs Aaron Doherty (Letterkenny) v Martin Feeney (Manorhamilton)
66kgs Kenan Gibson (Convoy) v Patrick McConigley (Letterkenny)
71kgs Ryan McCullagh (Raphoe) v James Bonnar (Dungloe)
60kgs Dennis Lafferty (Raphoe) v Ronan McGrinder (Lisnafin)
71kgs Danny Duggan (Raphoe) v Sean Kilkenny (Manorhamilton)
75kgs Patrick Friel (Raphoe) v Mark Lafferty (Convoy)
85kgs Gerard Crawford (Raphoe) v Frankie Sweeney (Carrigart)
85kgs Stephen Doherty (Letterkenny) v Terence Ward (Bluestack)
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