Another great week for Cork boxing and secretary John Wiseman, who was honoured by the Lord Mayor

It has been another outstanding week for Cork boxing, with Leeside boxers winning international Gold, silver and bronze medals.

The new Mallow Boxing Club outlined their sporting manifesto, and the Lord Mayor Fergal Dennehy presented the long-time county board secretary with a civic award silver medal.

John Wiseman has now been secretary of the Cork County Boxing Board for twenty-four years. 

A period which is now bordering on a quarter of a century of unbroken service. 

To date, the only man to exceed that was another very dedicated official the late Victor Aston who gave twenty-five years service.

The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Fergal Dennehy made the presentation of a silver medal and a framed civic award certificate which was richly enhanced by the inclusion of the authentic red seal of the city. 

This was a night of great celebration in the packed concert hall, at the City Hall, where five other recipients from all strands of society were honoured by Cork's first citizen. 

Wiseman was accompanied at the event by twenty-five boxing connections and a very large family representation.

The overall setting of stage, flowers and lighting was magnificently presented by city council officials and enhanced by the many splendid renditions of the Barrack Street Band and delightfully compared by the man for all seasons Chris Dorgan. 

The audience also, made a great contribution to the success of the night by displaying a genuine and warm appreciation of all the awardees, all of whom received a standing ovation during their individual presentations. 

Following the formal ceremony all guests then attended a great bash in the centenary hall where a banquet took place. 

Here, patrons were invited to eat and drink their fill, while being beautifully serenaded by that great old Cork crooner ' The Loungeman.' 

A comprehensive profile of John Wiseman's contribution to the Cork boxing scene will feature in a subsequent edition of the Echo boxing page.

Meanwhile, last weekend at the Muskerry Arms in Blarney, The Lord Mayor Cllr. Fergal Dennehy unveiled a plaque to honour a man who in 1922 won an Irish amateur boxing heavyweight title. 

Connie C.P. Clarke representing the Blarney boxing club was one of two Corkmen to bring the first two senior titles to Cork. 

On the same day Jim Buckley from Mallow won the bantamweight title and Clarke the man from the groves of Blarney won the heavyweight championship.

This was one hundred and four years ago, during the war of independence, and the nation lacked proper stability. 

However, the IABA who were formed in 1911 proceeded with the championships, and Clarke was crowned the heavyweight champion.

It is believed that soon after Connie emigrated to Birmingham to find work. 

The proprietors of the Muskerry Arms, Gary and Jerome O'Connor who are big followers of the noble art, believe it is only right and proper to mark this achievement and so the sporting deeds of Connie Clarke have now at long last been proudly acknowledged by members of the Blarney business community. 

Only two other Cork men won the Irish Heavyweight title. Don Murray representing Matt Talbot's BC, won it in1962, and Neilie Dunne representing Sunnyside won it in 1978. 

Dunne also won the Irish junior title in 1976 when he represented Fr. Horgan’s and was trained by Paul Power an outstanding coach from that era.

Due to work commitments Power could no longer train Dunne. Albie Murphy around then was coming back into boxing and became head coach with Sunnyside. 

Donal needed a coach and teamed up with Albie and in 1978 he completed the double by winning the senior title with a victory over Jim Kelleher Fr Horgan’s in an all-Cork final which took place in the National Stadium. 

To mark that victory nearly fifty years ago the Cork County Boxing Board requested the Lord Mayor to make a special presentation of a silver salver to that very modest and unassuming heavyweight champion from yesteryear the great Neilie Dunne.

Elsewhere, there was further jubilation on Leeside last weekend when Cork boxers returned from the Four Nations International Championships with six medals. 

This very prestigious international event took place in Motherwell in Scotland. 

The Cork boxers who represented their country and returned as medallists were gold medal, Linda Desmond, Rylane BC, silver medals: Claire Crowley, St Martha’s, Leah Cairns, Golden Gloves, and Dan Fitzgerald, Mayfield, and the bronze medallists were Michael O'Reilly, Togher, and Ryan Murphy, Mayfield. 

The president of the Board, Michael O'Brien warmly congratulated all.

Meanwhile, a new club has emerged from Mallow, this is great news for the sport as Mallow has a long and successful tradition. the first club there was established in 1947 and that was a very strong unit and produced many outstanding boxers. 

The new committee have put in a lot of hard work in recent months and have fully complied with theCork  County Board's requirements for affiliation. 

The club will be officially opened on Saturday, 11th July.