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Boxing gloves on for fundraiser

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THIRTY-six boxers, a mix of professional people, politicians, local sports people and community activists, will put on their gloves and fight for two local causes at the Clare Conquest fight night in the Queen’s Hotel, Ennis this Friday night.THIRTY-six boxers, a mix of professional people, politicians, local sports people and community activists, will put on their gloves and fight for two local causes at the Clare Conquest fight night in the Queen’s Hotel, Ennis this Friday night.
Over the past 10 weeks, all 36 competitors have undertaken a rigorous training schedule, including boxing skills, fitness training, nutritional training and motivational training, to gear them up to fight for their lives this week.
The unique and fun boxing challenge has been organised to raise funds for the Clare Crusaders and Ennis Chamber.
CEO of Ennis Chamber, Rita McInerney said the knockout event will raise vital funds for Clare Crusaders to continue their services for children with disabilities and their families, enabling them to lead fulfilling lives.
“It will also assist Ennis Chamber in representing the issues of the business community and in providing support to many organisations working for the good of the wider community,” she explained.
The competing boxers are being sponsored for the competition and contributions can also be made on the night.
Ms McInerney herself is boxing in Friday night’s event and she said the sport is a great way of getting fit and in shape.
“Participants did not need any boxing experience but we were put through our paces in recent weeks training for the competition. It’s been very enjoyable and at this stage, we’re all looking forward to the night,” she said.
The event is run by whitecollarboxing.ie, a business set up by former Irish light heavyweight champion, Cathal O’Grady, who also competed at the Olympics in Atlanta. He later turned professional and in recent years set up this boxing company to run community-based boxing events with a view to fundraising.
Event organiser, Susan Ward, said the event will be like a real boxing event, with all the buzz and adrenalin that goes with competitive boxing.
“There will be six fights on the night, each with three one-minute rounds. All of the competitors have trained very hard over the last few weeks and many have done additional personal training to prepare for the event.
“A number of them have decided to continue training and staying fit when the event is over. Only a handful of the competitors ever boxed before, so it was a very new departure for most of the candidates but they have really thrown themselves into this,” she commented.
Clare Conquest will be MC’d on the night by John McEvoy of White Collar Boxing, who has vast experience as a compere for boxing fights. Each of the boxers will be ably assisted by corner men, who are all members of the local boxing club.
Among those fighting on Friday night will be Rita McInerney of Ennis Chamber, Ann Norton of the Clare Crusaders, Anthony Sharkey, Cathal Brodie, Antoin O’Looney, Gerry Quinn and Tom Hoard.
Tickets for the event are on sale at Ennis Chamber at 54 O’Connell Street, Ennis or at 065 6842988.

 

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