Cork boxer Danny Keating making an impact in Australia

There’s a hot new Irish prospect Down Under with Cork welterweight Danny Keating starting to make waves by winning the WBC Australian Welterweight belt by beating a very tough Australian Blake Minto by unanimous decision. 

This was by far Keating’s most impressive display as he won all 10 rounds (100-90 x3) by all three judges and he can now cast his net further in the next few months as he will go searching for more titles. He is still unbeaten with a 10-0 record with an impressive five KOs.

Keating began his boxing career as a shy eight-year-old when his father Mike brought him along to the Watergrasshill boxing club and he was coached by famous Cuban Nickolas Cruz. 

He went on to win three national titles and represented Ireland at the 2012 European Championships in Bulgaria. 

However, he fought for his country numerous times at different tournaments around Europe. After more than 100 amateur fights, he turned professional when he was 20 and under the famous Irish boxing coach known as the Godfather Tony Davitt.

The Mitchelstown boxer won his first professional fight seven years ago when he stopped local Aphichat Koedchatturat in the second at the Punchbowl Club which is based in New South Wales. The Brisbane-based fighter then had another two fights and was victorious by stopping Hussain Wasette in the third round in Sidney and then stopped Utensil Chanavon in the first round at the NEX Newcastle West. His next fight was in the Guardamar Arena, Guardamar del Segura in Spain and beat local boxer Geiboord Omier on points. 

EXPERIENCED

Dannyboy’s next outing was in the Ulster Hall in Belfast in November 2021 and he was again victorious against English fighter Jack Ewbank by unanimous decision. Keating’s next outing was a year later at the National Stadium in Dublin and he was pitted against experienced Croatian Ivan Njegac. However, after a punishing opening two rounds Njegac retired in his corner at the end of the second round. 

Five months later he fought Nicaraguan fighter Greyvin Mendoza at the Salthill Leisureland Complex in Galway and came away with another impressive performance by winning on points. His eighth fight was back on home turf at the Gurranabraher Credit Union Parochial Hall where he was up against a tough Polish native Jakub Laskowski in an event that was organised by Martin Horgan where local lads Tommy Hyde and Cathal Crowley were also on the card. 

Again this was a serious test for Keating but he gave the Cork crowd something to cheer about with another clinical display to win on points.

The 27-year-old then decided to move back to Brisbane where his next bout was against Australian Beau Woods at the Foritude Music Hall, Fortitude Valley in Queensland last December and he got Woods out very quickly with a first-round stoppage.

"I started boxing at the age of 8 years old when I joined the Watergrasshill Boxing Club under Cuban coach Nickolas Cruz and my father Mike,” Danny said.

"I had over 100 amateur fights and won three Irish national titles and represented Team Ireland at the European Championships in Bulgaria, 2012. I also boxed for Team Ireland at various International competitions for another six years before I turned professional in 2019 when I was 20.

"I’m 10-0 as a professional fighter and recently won the Australian WBC belt in my fight when I beat local boxer Blake Minto by unanimous decision at the Gold Coast Convention Centre Broadbeach Queensland.

"After spending my first two years of my professional career in Australia, moved back home before I moved back to Australia in October last year. I then followed my good friend and manager former world champion Dennis Horgan (who was in Ireland for his big world title match on Katie Taylor's undercard last year) back to Australia and I’m really excited about what lies ahead.

I’m trained by Mark Wilson and he has trained many World Champions and is regarded as one of the best coaches in the world, so I’m in excellent hands both in and out of the ring.

"Since my last fight, it has skyrocketed up in the world ranking and I’m sure it will open more big opportunities for me.

"However, it’s been a great team effort, I have so many people on this journey with me including, coaches, managers, sponsors and of course my partner Zoe Morales, father Mike, mother Mag, sisters Molly, Chloe, brothers Jack, Mikey and my loyal friends."