Quality come-back fighters show they are just as eager

WHATEVER about the IABA's domestic problems - now, happily, waning - there seems to be no end to the amount of willing talent in the ring. The second session of the national championships on Saturday certainly showed that.

It is pleasing to see quality boxers making comebacks after years out of action. Light-weight Martin Hobbs, of Arklow, light-middle Eddie Fisher, of Holy Trinity, Belfast, and Ballyvolane's Tom Fitzgerald are very good examples.

Fisher is as keen as ever and more experienced to bid for a third title. Once he got the measure of taller opponent Thomas Sheahan, of Athy, he compiled the points to clinch a semi-final place.

Fisher has been out of boxing for two years and his opponent in Friday night's semi-final, Tom Fitzgerald, has also been relatively inactive for two years. The Cork man has six national titles under his belt but all short of the senior category.

Against Frank O'Brien, of Kerry's Ballyduff, Fitzgerald survived a tough challenge. The fourth round proved particularly testing for the Cork man as O'Brien, hopelessly in arrears, went for a knock-out. He didn't manage this but jumped from a 16-5 deficit to start the final round eight points down.

Perhaps the referee would have been justified had he stopped it in favour of Fitzgerald in the fourth session after O'Brien was dropped to the canvas with a sweeping right upper-cut after he had forced Fitzgerald to take a count.

Hobbs unexpectedly beat international Terry Carlyle, of Sacred Heart. Former international Donal Hosford, of Greenmount, goes for his first title in what will be his fifth decider. He earned the chance by beating Martin Murphy (St Paul's, Waterford) by 32-8 in the fly semifinals.

The new Limerick club, Corpus Christi, has two very good prospects in heavy John Kiely and super-heavy Brendan Kirrane. Francie Barrett's English club mate, Michael Fallon, of Trojan, was stopped in round four by the persistent Swinford light-heavy Adrian Sheerin. Super-heavy Sean Murphy, of Wexford, was the first champion to fall. He went out 11-9 to Dean Ward of Ballymun.