DUNNE CAPTURES WORLD TITLE IN DUBLIN

By Paul Madden

On a marvellous day for Irish sport Dublin boxer Bernard Dunne produced his own heroics at the O2 Arena in Dublin capturing the WBA Super Bantamweight title by defeating Ricardo Cordoba of Panama with an 11th round stoppage.

The opening rounds saw both fighters size each other up, Cordoba happy to keep the challenger at a distance trying to pick him off with his longer reach. Although Dunne was keen to get in close, he was in no hurry to expose himself to the kind of hay maker that saw him lose to Spaniard Kiko Martinez in 86 seconds.

CORDOBA FLOORED IN THE THIRD

Then in the third Dunne caught the champion with a thunderous left hook which saw the Panamanian reel across the ring before crashing to the floor. Perhaps Dunne could have pushed to finish it here but his experience told and the Neilstown man bided his time.

DUNNE IN DEEP TROUBLE

An accidental clash of heads in the fourth saw Dunne split open with a gash to the forehead and this seemed to unsettle the Dubliner as the fifth round saw him on the seat of his pants twice. He was certainly in trouble but managed to see out the remaining 80 seconds of that round and make it to his corner for a breather, although a different referee may have stepped in with Dunne in deep trouble on the ropes at the bell.

The sixth and seventh rounds Dunne managed to avoid further punishment, clearly wiser from previous experience. He looked steadier now, staring his opponent down on every bell and looked impressive in the eighth and ninth landing some solid punches.

TEST OF STAMINA

Cordoba withstood the onslaught and the tenth round saw both fighters trade some savage blows. At this stage of the contest it became a test of endurance and stamina with Dunne once again finishing the round stronger.

Beginning the penultimate round both boxers were clearly exhausted but it was Dunne who kept his concentration and accuracy, flooring Cordoba early in the round.

As Dunne put Cordoba down for the second time some neutrals would have wished the fight would go the distance but it wasn't to be. Dunne followed up to end the fight with the referee calling a halt after the third knock down.

DOGFIGHT

It was a pulsating contest, certainly the fight of the year and the best fight on Irish soil in a long time. It became a dogfight towards the end but proved an intriguing encounter throughout with relentless punishment dished out and taken on both sides.

In front of vociferous support at the O2, Bernard Dunne was more than up to the task and duly banished that August 2007 nightmare at the same venue from the memory.