THERE was a full house at Belfast’s Glen Park Bar on Saturday night to support the Sacred Heart Boxing Academy’s first major club show.
There were 12 exhibitions and four judged bouts on the night – right through the age grades - as Sacred Heart took on boxers from Ormeau Road, Holy Trinity, Star and St Agnes’s.
The showdown between Ethan Benson and Holy Trinity’s Johnny Doherty took the fight of the night award, while Philip Rooney was named Sacred Heart’s Boxer of the Year.
As well as raising funds for the north Belfast club, Saturday’s show was run in conjunction with the Children’s Heartbeat Trust – a special cause to club secretary Eamonn Magill whose grandson Jozie was born with a major heart condition last August.
And Magill, who boxed for the original Sacred Heart before helping it reopen in recent years, was delighted to see so many familiar faces inside the Glen Park.
“The place was full to the rafters,” he said.
“There was a great atmosphere and it helps to raise money to help keep the club afloat, and enables us to bring young boxers to future competitions.
“We have boxers competing in County Antrim championships, Ulsters, All-Irelands, it all costs money. Ethan Benson, Philip Rooney and Chloe Turley – our first female boxer – have all been up at the Ulster High Performance unit.
“Philip was away in Rome with County Antrim recently, having only just returned from Birmingham with another County Antrim team. So it has been a busy time for the club.
“I’d like to thank all our sponsors who came onboard to help us, without them the show wouldn’t have been possible, and I’d also like to thank all the coaches and the volunteers who help us - without them all the club couldn’t run.”
