RAY Close has proven his point. Earlier this year the Belfast super-middleweight was told he could no longer fight under a British license after the British Boxing Board of Control confirmed Close had failed a routine brain scan.
Within months though his corner boss Barney Eastwood, had enlisted Close with the Boxing Union of Ireland and sought legal advice to dispute the BBB of C decision.
This week Ray Close returned home after two gruelling months of training and two fights in America, both won over six rounds.
The Bangor based man has returned to the top 10 of the World Boxing Organisation ratings table.
American medical experts have given the thumbs up, the BUI also.
“I’ve done what I set out to do and that is to prove I am a fighter and that I am well and able to fight.
“I hear Steve Collins wants to fight Sam Storey.
“He has beaten Sam before and he should know now the Irish public want Close and Collins in the ring.
“I don’t think Collins will ever fight me. That’s my gut feeling now because he has dodged every question.”
FERMANAGH'S victorious All-Ireland B squad are unlikely to forget the welcome they received when they returned to the Erneside county late on Sunday evening. Midfielder Liam McBarron certainly won’t.
The emotional scenes in Belcoo and Lisnaskea particularly stand out for the Kinawley man. Speech followed speech in both towns. But McBarron was happy to almost drink in every word.
After all, victory celebrations and Fermanagh have not exactly been synonymous. The 20-year-old trainee teacher was back in Belfast yesterday.
Pulling on his St Mary’s kit for a sponsorship picture alongside his Ranch teammates. But his heart remained in a county that has been in the grip of a party, which shows no sign of ending.
BLACKPOOL chairman Billy Bingham sent a message to Northern Ireland manager Bryan Hamilton last night: “If you’re not using James Quinn, let us have him.”
Hamilton brought the young Blackpool striker into his squad for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Albania at Windsor Park but Quinn, having just returned from suspension, was in the plans of under-pressure Blackpool manager Gary Megson for Friday’s big derby clash with Preston, which is to be screened live by Sky TV.
Megson is said to be unhappy at the late call-up of his prize asset. Quinn’s current form, 10 goals to date, could help ease the pressure on the Seasiders manager.
TOP boxing trainer Emanuel Steward has made a wise move by rejecting Mike Tyson’s offer in order to stay with Britain’s Lennox Lewis, insisted Frank Maloney yesterday.
Champion-maker Steward was approached by Tyson’s handlers to take over his training routines following the shock loss of his WBA heavyweight title to Evander Holyfield.
But the overlord of Detroit’s famous Kronk gymnasium believes Lewis is the best heavyweight in the world and wants to remain with the best.
Lewis’s manager Maloney said: “It goes to prove Lewis has the best trainer in the world because Tyson (above) went after him.
“And it proves to everyone Lennox is the best heavyweight in the world as Emanuel decided to stay with him.
REFORMED Ronnie O’Sullivan, almost thrown out of the World Championship in disgrace earlier this year, continued his return to form in Osnabruck yesterday by reaching the quarter-finals of the German Open.
The world No 8, fined £20,000 for his back-stage assault on official Mike Ganley at Sheffield last April, crushed an out-oftouch Andy Hicks 5-1 to earn a mouthwatering meeting with title favourite Stephen Hendry tomorrow.
O’Sullivan’s comfortable win maintained a run in which he has landed the Asian Classic title, after turning over a new leaf.
ONE of the longest winning sequences in Ulster schools’ camogie came to an end yesterday when St Mary’s Magherafelt lost to county rivals St Patrick’s in the Ulster junior quarterfinal in Bellaghy.
St Mary’s were unbeaten in the province of Ulster in this competition since 1990, but St Patrick’s powered their way to victory.
Paula McAtamney was outstanding at centre-half back for the winners, with Susan Kelly, Paula McKenna and 12 year-old Jane Kelly very sharp in attack.
Gemma Downey, Naomh Laverty and the McCanns played well at the back for the vanquisehed college with Maeve Gormley effective in midfield.
Maghera now go on to play Keady in the semi-final.
St Patrick’s scorers: Jane Kelly 2-0, Paula McKenna 1-0, Paula McAtamney 0-2, Susan Kelly 0-1.
St Mary’s scorers: Rowena Cassidy 1-0, Lorna Mulholland, Denise McCann 0-1 each.
COCA-COLA Cup holders Cliftonville have been drawn against Distillery in the first round of this year’s competition on December 28.
Other attractive ties emerging from yesterday’s draw in the Stormont Hotel include a mid-Ulster clash between Omagh Town and Portadown while Glenavon have a tough assignment against first division leaders Ballymena.
As a former Distillery manager, Cliftonville boss Marty Quinn is looking forward to the fixture.
“I don’t think we’ve played Distillery since the formation of the premier and first division leagues two years ago, but games between the two clubs are always exciting,” he said. Distillery assistant manager Frankie Parks also happens to be a former Cliftonville manager.
The winning team will receive £4,000 with £2,500 going to the beaten finalists. Beaten semi-finalists get £1,500 and the losing quarter-finalists get £750. The eight first round losing teams will get £500.
This is the second year of the three-year deal between Coca-Cola and the Irish Football League. Another incentive has been added this year as the player of the competition, picked by the NI Football Writers’ Association, will receive a trip for two to the FA Cup Final.
First round draw: Omagh Town v Portadown, Distillery v Cliftonville, Newry Town v Coleraine, Carrick Rangers v Glentoran, Bangor v Ards, Larne v Crusaders, Ballymena United v Glenavon, Ballyclare Comrades v Linfield.
REFORMED Ronnie O’Sullivan, almost thrown out of the World Championship in disgrace earlier this year, continued his return to form in Osnabruck yesterday by reaching the quarter-finals of the German Open.
The world No 8, fined £20,000 for his back-stage assault on official Mike Ganley at Sheffield last April, crushed an out-oftouch Andy Hicks 5-1 to earn a mouthwatering meeting with title favourite Stephen Hendry tomorrow.
O’Sullivan’s comfortable win maintained a run in which he has landed the Asian Classic title, after turning over a new leaf.
THERE is a heavy Ulster presence on two teams selected for the Irish Schoolboys Trials taking place in Blackrock College school grounds on Saturday.
A total of nine Ulster schoolboys have been selected, including the son of Irish international David Irwin (also named David) from Methodist College and playing at number eight.
Blues: Simon Crowe (Regent House), Darragh Holt (CBC Cork), Stephen Conway (Crescent College Comprehensive), Shane Moore (Belvedere College, Capt), Darragh Kavanagh (Blackrock), Johnny Patton (Royal School Dungannon), Bobby Quigley (Clongowes Wood College), Andy O’Brien (Terenure College), David Blaney (Terenure College), Shane McCullough (Clongowes Wood College), Eoin Kelly (Rockwell College), Peter Callanan (Clongowes Wood College), Ian Sheehy (Clongowes Wood College), Neil Coughlan (Blackrock College), David Irwin (Methodist College)
Whites: Cormac Dowling (St Michael’s College), Fergal Swords (Belvedere College), Barry McCracken (Campbell College), Brian O’Driscoll (Blackrock College), David Wilmott (Coleraine Academical Inst), Andy Dunne (Belvedere College), Ciaran Scally (Blackrock College, Capt), Nigel Brady (Royal School Dungannon), Jermiah Flannery (St Munchians College), Brian McNamara (Ard Scoil Ris), Garret Lloyd (St Mary’s College), Donnacha O’Callaghan (CBC Cork), Chris McCarey (Belfast Royal Academy), Andrew Hughes (Royal School Dungannon), Anthony Hartigan (St Munchins College).
ARMAGH have named their squad to take part in U21 duties against Westmeath on Saturday.
Armagh U21 squad: Niall Douglas (Sarsfields), Shane Donnelly (Tullsarron), Michael Rocks, Stephen Gallogly (Newtownhamilton), Aidan O’Rourke (Dromintee), Gerard Agnew (Harps), Colin Treanor, Philip Oldham (Clann na Gael), Brendan O’Hara, James Byrne (Clann Eireann), Conor Coleman (Wolfe Tones), Kieran Rafferty (Maghery), Barry Duffy, Adrian Doran, Paul Watters, Kevin McDonnell (Killeavey), Stephen Tiffany (Tir na nOg), Shane McKeever (Cullyhanna), Peter Loughran, Anthony Bennett (Carrickcruppen), Barry Hughes (Keady), Jim Moore (Madden), Declan Loye (Cullyhanna), Tony Hughes (Pearse Og), Alan O’Neill (Culloville).
DUNDALK have signed 20-year-old Celtic Reserves player Graham Morrison on loan and the centre-half will be in the panel for tomorrow night’s game against Home Farm Everton at Oriel Park.
