Christina Desmond headlines huge boxing and Muay Thai weekend in Cork

There will be two huge nights for fighting fans this weekend when Siam Warriors host professional boxing and Muay Thai events at the GUC Parochial Arena.

It starts on Friday with a historic women’s professional boxing Irish title fight between Cork’s own Christina Desmond and Galway native Louise Creaven for the Irish Lightweight title over 10 rounds.

Also on the card will be fellow Cork fighters Cathal Crowley, Aaron O’Donoghue, Kuba Pielesz and Michael Desmond along with some of other big boxing names in a stacked seven-fight card.

It has been years in the making to get a strong women's domestic showdown lined up. However, Martin Horgan literally searched the World and found Christina’s opponent Louise Craven fighting down under in Brisbane, Australia. The Galway native is only delighted to be returning home to Ireland for the opportunity to fight.

The heavily supported Desmond surprised nobody as she stormed her way to five solid wins within a year under manager Kevin Crowley.

It would be an amazing achievement to pick the title up on home soil and keep the momentum going to more big fights for titles at home and abroad.

For now, Desmond is 100% focused on the Irish title.

Standing in the opposite corner is Craven, who is no stranger to tough competition. She is just off a big stoppage win against Thanchonok Phanan in August and only lost to Jessica Messina for the Australian Super Lightweight title, so now she returns to seal a massive opportunity in Irish women's boxing.

The card also features a great line-up of Cork professional boxers. 

Aaron O’Donoghue will be in a tough showdown against Argentina's Jose Maria Pombo in a real 50-50 match-up on the night and a win could line him up for a future Celtic or Irish title fight.

Cathal Crowley takes on Bulgarian Konstantin Alexsandrov in a Light Heavyweight contest and Lightweight Kuba Pielesz will face off against Mexican Mario Ramon Valenzuela. 

The Celtic Warrior Gym stablemates will look to make statements on the night in front of home support.

Crowley is determined to get the victory that should set him up for an Irish or Celtic title fight that he hopes could be on Leeside next year.

Pielesz continues to build in the professional fight scene and he also has Celtic title aspirations.

Micheál Desmond has taken the opportunity to join the action on his sister Christina's headliner fight card. The Desmond twins had decorated amateur careers. Micheál, a brilliant footballer with Cill na Martra, will be making his professional debut fight in a heavyweight contest.

On Saturday night, it’s the turn of the Muai Thai event with Siam Warriors' Aideen Mullins facing Alyssa Dalby from the Sextex Gym in England. 

Showdown

The Warriors' Guluia Comini collides with fellow Irish women Casey Tasi in Silver Series title eliminators.

Warriors' Corey O’Malley will also be in action against Kevin Finn from Courage Gym in Clonmel with his stablemate Leo Martinez facing off against English fighter Lewis Kelly.

However, the fight card is extremely stacked with Courage’s Eric Hehir headlining the event, battling Canadian Jake Peacock for the WBC Muay Thai SWS title. 

There will be several other bouts involving Irish, Scottish and English fighters on the night.