A special charity boxing event on Leeside is set to raise funds for Cork Arc and Ronald McDonald House

On Saturday week, October 24th, the Cork County Boxing Board will promote a big charity show where the hosts will take on a very strong Louth boxing team, led by the National President of the IABA Anto Donnolly.

The IABA has now been rebranded and trades under the new name Boxing Ireland. 

The secretary of the Cork County boxing board John Wiseman is looking forward to the event.

"This will be a great day of boxing on Leeside with the proceeds going to two great charities.

"Cork boxing in the past has assisted many charities. 

"However, there is a special significance attached to this show. 

"Two great men associated with boxing, Peter Higgins from the Mayfield Club and Patrick Fitzgibbon, coach with the Muskerry Boxing Club whose lives have been impacted with cancer have nominated two great charities -Ronald McDonald House and Cork ARC – Cancer support house. 

"These charities have been of great assistance to the two men who have nominated them." 

In addition, the Cork County Boxing Board, through its treasurer Nicola Murphy, has organised a Go fund Me page with a target of €10,000.

The Cork versus Louth clash will commence at 4pm. 

This will be preceded by a juvenile tournament which will take place earlier in the day from 11am – 2pm. 

The venue for this bumper boxing day is the Na Piarsaigh GAA complex on Fair Hill. 

The event will coincide with the Jazz festival in the city and while the music will be on in the town, the real action will be on Fair Hill where some mouth-watering bouts will give patrons great value for money.

The Louth selection coming to Cork will be a very strong outfit. 

This is a David V Golliath tournament as Cork are the biggest county in the country and Louth is the smallest. 

Notwithstanding geographic size, Louth has always had a great tradition of producing top class boxers. 

Amongst those representing Cork will be Jamie Long, who will headline the show. 

Jamie has recently returned after a great success with the defence forces in Portsmouth. 

Also on the show is the great heavyweight from Bandon, Michael O'Donavan and he will box Geroge St Ledger. 

Another great contest will feature George Goff at lightweight, who will take on Ricky Kiely. 

All three of these Cork boxers are pictured on this page.

The Cork sporting public are encouraged to support this great show as cancer has touched the lives of somebody in every family. 

The board wish to thank Anto Donnelly and the Louth team for coming down and paid tribute to Peter Higgins, who is directly affected by cancer and Patrick Fitzgibbon, whose little daughter Millie is also affected by the disease. 

On the day their will be food stalls available, teas, coffees and a shop.

Elsewhere, prior to his return to New York, on Saturday last, Donie Carroll presented the Jack McAuliffe Cup to Dan O'Connell, president of the Cork Ex-Boxers Association. 

It is ironic that Donie, who has been domiciled in New York for many years should sponsor this cup as Jack McAuliffe himself lived most of his life in New York. 

This cup will feature as part of the Cork boxing festival which will take place April – May next year. 

Donie has also sponsored the specifically designed medals for the prestigious senior boxing tournament which will be part of the five-day festival. Carroll has a long association with Cork boxing. 

As a young man he won both Cork county boxing and Munster championship medals.

He boxed with both Sunnyside and the CIE Boxing Club. 

He recalls been coached by Paddy `The Champ` Martin. 

Donie said he is delighted to be associated with the sponsorship for part of the festival. 

He added he looks forward every week to reading the Cork boxing page online and this always keeps him up to date on what is happening in Cork boxing. 

Donie also said he is hoping to get back to Cork for the festival next year as there is a fantastic programme planned for the festival.

The festival cup is named after Jack McAuliffe, Cork's only world boxing champion. 

On March 27th, 1866, Jack was born at 5 Church Yard Lane which today forms part of Bishop Lucy Park. 

Jack was baptised in St Peter and Paul's Church and served as an altar boy there for five years. 

Around his 10th birthday the family emigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn. 

In the United States he developed a keen interest in boxing and showed from an early age that he had a great talent for that sport. 

Jack went on to turn professional and won the world lightweight title. 

He defended this title for nine years and retired undefeated. 

There is a plaque on the wall in honour of his world success in Bishop Lucy Park. 

Now the legacy of Jack McAuliffe continues through Donie Carroll's sponsorship of the Jack McAuliffe Cup.