March a Great Month for MGM Team

After a great month at MGM, Matthew Macklin is very happy with how things have turned out, “March has been a great month for the MGM Team” said Matthew, “St. Patrick’s Weekend saw Michael Rooney, Peter McDonagh, achieve fantastic victories followed by Kofi Yates and Bradley Saunders last week , all victorious in their bouts, what more could we ask?!”.

Michael Rooney was first up for the MGM team with his fight on the 15th March in Villa Park, Birmingham, Lightweight Michael Rooney edged past Adrian Fuzesy, making his record 5-0. Rooney, facing ambitious Hungarian Adrian Fuzesy, had a battle on his hands in front of his supporters. Rooney [9st 9lb] seemed to struggle to settle early on but looked as though he stung Fuzesy [9st 7lb] with some well timed right hands. The former schoolboy champion with Seamus Macklin in his corner managed to get his boxing together in the second round. Rooney boxed neatly to take the third round with ease, but the last was a struggle as Fuzesy sense he may cause an upset. In the end it was Fuzesy’s bigger shots against Rooney’s better quality work in spurts, and Rooney managed to pick his spots better to gain a tight 39-38 decision on referee Shaun Messer’s score-card. “Rooney’s talent is obvious” commented Matthew “and MGM is looking forward to watching him move onto bigger and better things!”

Galway’s ‘Cinderella Man’ Peter McDonagh was next up on St. Patricks Weekend, McDonagh (22-28-1) became a two weight Irish champion after outpointing Buncrana’s John Hutchinson (5-1-2) over ten rounds for the light middleweight strap at the Rivermead Centre, Reading. “ It was a triumph for McDonagh” said Matthew “ a joy to watch!”

Now aged 35, former Southern Area title holder McDonagh has been enjoying his longest winning streak since 2008. The Connemara Kid is a deceptively good counter puncher, and from the back foot, went on to deliver enough to take the 3rd round with a smile on his face.

McDonagh kept distance in the fourth, and flicked out an accurate jab, but changed tactic in the fifth and faced Hutchinson, who became more effective when the pair traded at close range.

McDonagh was throwing big right hands from the back foot and tying Hutchinson up straight afterwards. There was more of the same in the ninth as Hutchinson found it increasingly difficult to pin McDonagh down.

Going into the closer, Hutchinson came out with purpose and hustled McDonagh to the ropes, where he playfully hung his chin out, only for Hutchinson to miss conclusively with his right hand.

Referee Marcus McDonnell scored 98-93 for McDonagh, who adds the Irish light middleweight title to the lightweight one he captured back in 2006 with a sixth round stoppage of Michael Gomez.

After the fight, McDonagh dedicated to victory to his late sister, who sadly who passed away in January to breast cancer. Veteren McDonagh now intends to pursue European glory at Welterweight.

Kofi Yates is a promising young fighter on the MGM Team, MGM are very proud to have Kofi on board.  “He is one to watch!” boasted MGM.

After lacing on the gloves aged 11, at Jimmy Egan’s Boxing Academy in Wythenshawe, Kofi had over 50 amateur bouts and reached an ABA quarter-final before turning professional. Now trained by former WBU ‘world’ champion, Arnie Farnell, the light-welterweight has developed a crowd pleasing pro style and insists fans will be on the edge of their seats  with his fights.

“People can expect fireworks in my fights,” revealed Yates, 20, a keen boxing historian who lists Rocky Marciano, Jack Dempsey and Randolph Turpin as his favourite fighters.

“I’m an all-out fighter and a counter puncher on the front foot. I’m exciting and strong and you’re guaranteed your money’s worth when you come and watch me fight.”

Kofi Yates beat Dougie Curran (Newcastle) over 4 x 3 rounds in a Light-Welterweight Contest at The Tower Ballroom, Edgbaston, England. Yates won on points 40-36.

BRADLEY Saunders made it nine wins out of nine after stopping Scotland’s Mitch Prince in Newcastle.

The 28-year-old had sold somewhere in the region of a 1,000 tickets at the Metro Radio Arena for the Saturday night show headlined by the IBF world title derby between Stuart Hall and Martin Ward.

And he wowed his fans with an exciting fourth-round destruction of the South African-born opponent who had never been stopped in his career.

The Segefield boxer put Prince down in the first with a left-right combination but the Cumbernauld opponent survived. Saunders was less rushed in round two and had success because of it but in the third he thumped in a series of lefts to the body of Prince.

Round four proved the decisive action. Twice the aggressive Saunders put down Prince and twice the underdog was up at eight. But when Bradley put him down for a third time just seconds later, referee Andrew Wright didn´t even bother to start a count.

Next the light-welterweight says he’s ready, willing and able to beat British Champion Curtis Woodhouse; so watch this space….  MGM said “we are working very hard alongside Frank Warren to try and get him a shot.”

After such a successful month for MGM and the team, there is plenty more to come in April and beyond!