De Courcey Boxing Club senior tournament was one of the best in Cork in recent years

The Town Hall in Bandon was packed to capacity recently as the local De Courcey Boxing Club promoted one of the best senior boxing Tournaments witnessed in Cork for many a year.

It was a sporting occasion which fully enhanced amateur boxing to a very appreciative public. 

Fourteen bouts of very competitive senior boxing, allied to an electric atmosphere in the hall, where supporters fully got behind their boxers, in a cauldron of cheering, chanting, whistling and clapping the pugilistic athletes, who gave both value for money, and memories to all.

For the last twelve months the De Courcey Boxing Club, based in Bandon has enjoyed the status of being the ‘Cork Boxing Club of the Year’. 

This is a prestigious mantle, which was hard earned but fully deserved. 

They are the current holders of the ‘Victor J Aston Cup’, which is the silver symbol of boxing supremacy in the southern capital.

All year long, this club were very conscious of the honour bestowed upon them. 

They set out, to raise the bar even higher, and fully achieved this goal, culminating in the spectacular boxing extravaganza, which magnificently brought the curtain down on an outstanding year for the club and a memorable year for Cork boxing.

John Wiseman, Secretary of the Cork County Board, a man who has been officiating in Cork boxing circles for over a quarter of a century said this about the event.

“De Courcey Boxing Club is a tremendous club with a fantastic working committee.

“However, I must single out one man who dreamed up the idea for this show over a year ago, Will Rossall, the head coach has worked hard, and planned this tournament down to perfection, he left no stone unturned, and he has a vision of where he wants Cork boxing to be,” Wiseman said.

Gussie Bennett, a west Cork native and a great boxing enthusiastic, home on holiday from New York said this.

“I only heard of this show by chance and I am glad I came.

“When I left Cork many years ago, boxing was at a low ebb, but my God what I saw today gave me a great lift," Bennett said.

This senior boxing tournament was both unique and historic. 

It was the first show ever in Cork to provide a specially commissioned boxing belt for the winner of each bout. 

It had the traditional sound of the piper as he led the boxers in parade to the ring prior to the first bell. 

The occasion was graced by Gary ‘Spike O’Sullivan, Cork’s most successful professional boxer in over sixty years, and by current Cork professionals, who are now doing very well and remain undefeated on the international circuit, Cathal Crowley and Tommy Hyde.

Every bout was contested very keenly; every decision was welcomed very warmly. 

Clubs who participated came from all parts of the country, and all agrees that the De Courcey Club had promoted a barnstorming tournament, which made you proud to be part of the amateur boxing family.

The accolade for Best Boxer of the Tournament went to Irish senior champion Kubla Pielesz, who narrowly defeated the gallant Dany Lucey of the Rylane Boxing Club. 

Lucey is a great boxer and will relish the prospect of bringing a senior title to Cork in the near future.

Kubla Pielesz is a member of the Golden Gloves Club in Cork and is coached by the current ‘Cork Coach of the Year’, John Morrissey, a former international elite boxer.

Reflecting on the success of the Tournament Will Rossall said: “I am very happy with the way it went, I wish to thank every member of our own club, who worked tirelessly to make this a success.

“I want to thank the boxers, coaches and clubs, who travelled to Bandon, also it is very important that I sincerely thank the business community who were our fantastic sponsors, the politicians who patronised the event, the public for making the show a sell-out and the officials of the Cork County Boxing Board, who did a very efficient job ensuring the tournament went like clockwork," Rossall said.

The President of the Cork County Board Michael O’Bien congratulated Rossall and his club. 

“By all accounts this was a remarkable senior boxing show, every day in the last two years senior boxing in Cork is becoming more and more progressive. 

"This is where we want to be, and with shows like this one in Bandon and the driving force of John Morrissey, as Director of Senior Boxing in Cork, Leeside will soon be a powerhouse in Irish senior and elite boxing again,” O'Brien said.

Meanwhile, Saturday, 14th June next will see the official opening of the boxing club in Cobh. 

This is a new premises the club are moving to, and located in the centre of the town.

The Harbour Club use the old spelling of the locality and are affiliated as Cove BC. 

This promises to be a great occasion for this very progressive club.

A very special guest has been invited to perform the opening, and when the invitation is confirmed, the club will advise accordingly.

Amongst the other guests on the day will be John Hennessy. 

John has been linked with boxing in Cobh for many years. 

He is a well known historian, who last year was honoured by the Lord Mayor of Cork. 

Hennessy is also a former treasurer of the County Boxing Board and a member of the Cork Ex-Boxers Association.

The new location for the club will provide a much greater platform to promote boxing in the historic Town.