Joe Ward to headline ‘Rumble In The Hills’ as pro boxing makes Donegal return

Professional boxing will make its return to Donegal in November after a 13-year absence.

Details of the ‘Rumble In The Hills’ bill, which will be held in the Aura Leisure Complex in Letterkenny on November 18, have been released by promotor Elite Sheer with Dungloe man Danny Boyle set to feature.

Former Irish amateur star Joe Ward (9-1, 5KOs) will headline the night in his first bout in Ireland as a pro. 

The 29-year-old is a three-time European amateur gold medalist, who also won two silver and one bronze at the amateur World Championships and represented Ireland at the 2016 Olympic Games.

In the main event in Letterkenny, the Moate southpaw will face Prince Oko Nartey (11-1, 10KOs) over eight rounds at light heavyweight.  ‘Prince of God’ Nartey arrives in Ireland having secured ten of his eleven victories inside the distance.

Rising Belfast ace James McGivern (7-0, 2KOs) will feature in the co-headline bout. ‘The Natural’ Mcgovern, a Commonwealth Youth Games gold and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, will challenge Scotland's Josh Sandford (6-0) for the the BUI Celtic lightweight title.

World middleweight title challenger Jason Quigley, who is managed by Sheer Sports and who is a key figure in putting the show together, believes this can be the dawn of a new era for the sport in his native county.

He said: ‘“The Aura is a fabulous venue and it’s brilliant for us to be looking forward to bringing people in and putting Donegal on the map.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to put professional boxing back in Donegal again. I would love if this could start something new, something fresh, something for boxing in the county. A show like this can show young boxers in the county what is ahead of them. It can encourage youngsters to give it a proper go and when you’re doing that it’s very important to bring the fanbase along.

Danny Boyle.

“I really want the people of Donegal to get behind this. This will be a great night and some amazing fights will make a cracking atmosphere. This will be a night to remember and there will be moments that will always live in the minds of the people who are there. This could be a turning tied for a new era in professional boxing in the area.”

London-based super-middleweight Boyle (2-0-1) will get a chance to showcase on a home show. The Walsh brothers, Liam and Paddy, will look to build their respective professional records, while Dubliner Craig O’Brien is also on the bill.

Ukrainian super-welterweight Maksym Molodan, who is now based in Ireland had quick-fire wins over Dmytro Klochko and Mykola Trofymenko in September and will look to announce himself in style to his new Irish audience.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Tyler Jolly is two-from-two as a pro and will bring his exciting talents to Donegal having beaten Vojtech Majer and Frank Madsen so far this year, while while Galway heavyweight Jason Myers will make his pro debut and Navan super-feather Cain Lewis aims to maintain his unbeaten record.

Quigley said: “The card is stacked with unbelievable talent. It’s very important to get local boxers on the local shows. When we’re bringing this to Donegal, we felt that it was important to give a Donegal boxer a crack at the show. Growing a fanbase from the roots up is vital in boxing and this will do Danny Boyle the world of good. It will be brilliant for the people of Donegal to shout on one of their own.”

In October 2010, Dungiven’s Paul McCloskey stopped Barry Morrison in the seventh round at the Aura to win the EBU European super lightweight title in a bout screened live on RTE Two.