Conal Thomas has given a lifetime of support and service to Cork boxing

Established ten years ago, the Cork boxing Fraternity Association has enhanced the sport, and made a significant contribution to the Leeside boxing landscape.

In early January 2015, a group of Cork boxing enthusiasts met in a restaurant at Mahon Point. 

The meeting discussed setting up an organization which would be independent but one which would support all strands of boxing. 

This liberal mandate would provide a vehicle to compliment both amateur and professional boxing.

The Cork County Boxing Board was advancing the promotion of amateur boxing, while the Cork ex-boxers association was providing a haven for former boxers in addition to complimentary the work of the county board. 

A new association would have to identify a niche which it could adequately cater for, and it needed to have a name which would appeal to the boxing community and its supporters.

A lively debate ensued at the inauguration meeting and following numerous names and suggestions to consensus of opinion agreed on the word fraternity meaning a group of people with common interest of friendship and support, and so the Cork Boxing Fraternity Association was founded. The primary purpose of new association was to promote and develop boxing in Cork at both amateur and professional levels, to organise social events and to reward the achievement of former boxers in addition to honouring current boxers on a regular basis.

The honour of being elected the first president of an association which is now ten years-old was bestowed on the very popular businessman and proud son of Donegal, Conal Thomas. 

Reflecting recently on his continuous presidency over the last decade Mr Thomas said he was absolutely delighted to see boxing flourish in Cork. All boxing records have been broken and it is getting better year after year.

On a personal note, Thomas said he was delighted to see his daughter Shelley win four All-Ireland boxing titles with Loughmahon BC and to see Spike O'Sullivan rise from training in a shed in Bessborough, to grace the world stage of top class professional boxing. 

“I was very honoured to lead Spike out before an attendance of over 20,000 people at the 02 arena in London when he fought Eubank JR," Thomas said. 

Conal Thomas, as his sponsor and friend, has travelled to all of Spike’s fights in various parts of the world.

Spike is Cork’s most successful professional boxer over the last 60 years. 

Conal was at ringside in Los Angelus, Los Vegas, Canada, Texas, Boston, New Hampshire and New York etc. 

"Another proud memory for me included standing in the ring with Steve Collins and Chris Eubank, and being interviewed by Sky Sports with the great ring kings of the world, Oscar de la Hoya and Sugar Ray Leonard.” 

Conal Thomas was also excited about many of Cork’s young boxers who have made an impression on him. 

These include: Stephen Cairns, Callum Walsh, Aaron O'Donoghue, Tommy Hyde, Cathal Crowley, and the inspiring amateur boxers, Christina Desmond, Linda Desmond, Sharon and Katie O'Keeffe and so many other Cork prospects, who are about to appear on the Cork boxing horizon.

Conal Thomas believes Cork boxing is the most efficient and well structured unit of the IABA in the country. 

Having, in the course of his work been in almost every country in Ireland he has attended many boxing functions. 

Thomas, as managing director of the mega nationwide, Conal’s Tree Services Ltd had the opportunity and privilege to employ many boxers in all grades and many of these athletes have availed of the offer.

Prior to leaving his native Donegal in the early eighties to employment in Cork, Conal Thomas was a very successful Ulster boxing champion. 

Last year he was guest of honour at a dinner organised by Peter O'Donnell, the president of the County Board in Donegal. 

Here he was delighted to see a perpetual cup being named in his honour. 

“We enjoyed a great night in my home town and I was delighted to meet once again many of my boxing heroes, including my great friends, the Olympic boxing star Charlie Walsh, Jason Quigley, Paul McCloskey and Paddy Doherty, a man who fought on two undercards with Mohammad Ali."

However his most treasured boxing memory of all, was when he was presented with the Cork Boxing Personality of the Year Award at the City Hall in Cork in 2018. 

“This was the big one for me,” said Thomas.

“I will never forget when members of my family and friends travelled from Donegal to be with me and my wife and children amongst two hundred guests who enjoyed a fantastic social and sporting occasion on the banks of the Lee."

During his time as president of the Cork Boxing Fraternity Association, Mr Thomas hosted many boxing breakfasts the incoming Taoiseach Micheal Martin was a guest at many of these. However his abiding memory of greeting Micheal was on the 12th December 2026. This was the first time, Micheal was Taoiseach and he was making a historic visit following Covid to Ireland’s oldest boxing club. On the day, Thomas, a trustee of the Glen BC made a presentation to Micheal to honour his elevation to the office of the Taoiseach.

The following year the Donegal man organisd a three day event in Cork to mark the 25th anniversary of Steve Collins winning the world super middleweight crown defeating the champion Chris Eubank twice at both Millstreet and Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

A few months ago the Cork boxing fraternity association announced Micheal Martin as the Cork boxing personality of the year in recognition of his great work for, and regular affinity to, the sport of boxing in Cork. Over many years, next Saturday night, the CBFA will honour Cork’s national adult 2024 boxing champions, the function will take place at Hickey’s sports bar and lounge in Dromahane. Once again, Conal Thomas will be making presentations to honour Leeside’s boxing heroes and to continue his great work as an outstanding boxing ambassador.