Boxing: Bernard Dunne retires

**Colbert Report** · 27/02/2010, 2:53 AM

I live in Canada, Michael Carruth was one of my childhood heroes, I FOLLOW boxing, and I had never even heard of Bernard Dunne until I watched the Cordoba fight in a pub in Cork this time last year.

Never even heard of him - AND I'M IRISH! AND A BOXING FAN!

**sligobhoy67** · 27/02/2010, 10:43 AM

The Cordoba fight was his biggest profile fight so that is not a surprise.

However almost all of his first 14 fights were live on ESPN and all of his fight on RTE were provide live and free on a RTE webcast- so despite being a "boxing fan" you obviously missed all those.

As I said - boxing is a parocial sport until you get into the world superstar level of Pacquaio and Mayweather. After all how many people could name the Rings top ten P4P fighters?

I wonder how many Irish boxing fans have heard of David Lemieux, Steve Molitor or Joachim Alcine?

**Colbert Report** · 27/02/2010, 4:05 PM

sligoboy - ESPN might sound nice and big to you, but to me, it is a small cable channel. Unless you're on NBC, ABC, FOX or CBS you're not "live throughout America". I can name all of Ring Magazine's top pound for pound fighters.

Bernard Dunne made no impact whatsoever in North America. At my boxing club, nobody knew who he was either when I came back to Canada and told them about the Cordoba fight.

**osarusan** · 27/02/2010, 5:14 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

I live in Canada, Michael Carruth was one of my childhood heroes, I FOLLOW boxing, and I had never even heard of Bernard Dunne until I watched the Cordoba fight in a pub in Cork this time last year.

Never even heard of him - AND I'M IRISH! AND A BOXING FAN!

With all due respect, if you are both Irish and a boxing fan, the fact that you never heard of Dunne until the Cordoba fight says more about you than Dunne's fame.

**Colbert Report** · 27/02/2010, 5:21 PM

Ah now to be fair I've been living here since 1996. My whole point was that Bernard Dunne is not known by almost anyone here in Canada, or the USA for that matter. For example, have ye in Ireland ever heard of Dion Phaneuf or Jarome Iginla? I thought not. They're household names here in Canada.

**Dodge** · 27/02/2010, 5:49 PM

I have, but then I'm a nerd (and I kinda like Ice Hockey). Osarusan is right, you can't call yourself an irish boxing fan if you've never even heard of him. Its not like you don't have internet access. Most Irish boxing fans knew of John Duddy and Dunne long before they fught as pros in Ireland

Originally Posted by endabob1

The problem with sports coverage in the uk is that it's driven by Sky, they didn't cover the Cordoba fight so to them it might as well not have happened, for the general public in Britain it was just 2 foreginers fighting.
Sky's coverage of boxing is a farce, it's either mega-hyped average british fighters on box office or the prizefighter apporach to try to unearth the next figther they can hype .
I remember years ago, the Morales v Barrera fights & Sky only showed the first one at the very last second, up until the day before there was no mention of it, not in the schedules, it might as well have not existed, despite the fact that it was a fight between the 2 best Super Bantams in the world & indeed 2 of the best pfp in the wolrd at the time.

Fwiw I think the Indo article had some valid points about parochialism and the hype surrounding Dunne, but the same accusation could easliy be thrown at someone like Ricky Hatton. Dunne may never have been world class but he was a good fighter, Cordoba was a good champion and it was a fantastic achievement to take his belt. He has had the good sense to get out at the right time, unlike so many others I hope he enjoys his retirement he has certainly earned it

Excellent post. The only caveat is that a pet hate of mine is the reluctance of the majority of IOrish to accept success by Irish people until they've "broke" the US/UK market (Happens in usic constantly too). I do't see why Dunne should be punished for being able to bring fights to Dublin adn sell out. its pretty much a goal of every fighter to get to a stage where he can dictate where fights are

**bennocelt** · 27/02/2010, 6:26 PM

But the question is has he fought the best, has he boxed the best? I dont know, I dont think so

**sligobhoy67** · 27/02/2010, 6:53 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

sligoboy - ESPN might sound nice and big to you, but to me, it is a small cable channel. Unless you're on NBC, ABC, FOX or CBS you're not "live throughout America". I can name all of Ring Magazine's top pound for pound fighters.

Bernard Dunne made no impact whatsoever in North America. At my boxing club, nobody knew who he was either when I came back to Canada and told them about the Cordoba fight.

Well used to live in New York and I am under the impression still that ESPN is to the US what SKY Sports is to the UK!

So you know about the exploits of Nonito Donaire but not Bernard Dunne - I'll take your word for it!

**sligobhoy67** · 27/02/2010, 6:55 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

But the question is has he fought the best, has he boxed the best? I dont know, I dont think so

Is that the question? When was that question posed?

Did he fight the best - who do you consider the best?

**bennocelt** · 28/02/2010, 7:40 AM

Well some of you on here seem to think he was great, I dont, he did well for an average boxer, nice to get the world title and all
Could I call him the frank Bruno of Irish boxing!?

**Aberdonian Stu** · 28/02/2010, 9:05 PM

Only if you also want to under-rate Frank Bruno. True Bruno had two bad losses to Tyson but one of those was at Tyson's peak and the other was, while Bruno was WBC champion, when Bruno was fading. In the mid 80s and early 90s he was a great fighter, not just a very good one. His 4 of his 5 career defeats came against hall of fame calibre fighters and he beat plenty of fighters also in that class. Just because he was a very light-hearted chap outside of the ring during his career, you shouldn't underestimate his talent and achievements as a fighter.

**Razors left peg** · 28/02/2010, 9:26 PM

just found this thread now and have enjoyed reading it.Im a boxing fan but wouldnt be as knowledgeable about boxing as some on here but I would agree with most of what Sligobhoy has had to say.

**sligobhoy67** · 28/02/2010, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

Well some of you on here seem to think he was great, I dont, he did well for an average boxer, nice to get the world title and all
Could I call him the frank Bruno of Irish boxing!?

you make me sick. Just because you havent a clue about boxing you trying and make out that other poster are somehow infatuated with Dunne!!

Who said he was great - when was this ever said??

On this thread you've made yourself out to be as ignorant about boxing as Conlan is!!

full of cliched one liners but then when faced with facts you ignore it and jump to another half baked bullshiit point!

If its because he is not from Belfast then just come out and say it - because I really cant see that you have any valid points on this thread!

Carl Frampton is fight next week, Martin Lindsay and John Duddy are fighting next month and McCloskey is fighting in Belfast in May - I will be supporting them just as much as I do any fighter from south of the border. Maybe you should lose the chip on your shoulder and start looking at Dunnes career with a little more balance!

**bennocelt** · 01/03/2010, 1:41 PM

Originally Posted by Aberdonian Stu

Only if you also want to under-rate Frank Bruno. True Bruno had two bad losses to Tyson but one of those was at Tyson's peak and the other was, while Bruno was WBC champion, when Bruno was fading. In the mid 80s and early 90s he was a great fighter, not just a very good one. His 4 of his 5 career defeats came against hall of fame calibre fighters and he beat plenty of fighters also in that class. Just because he was a very light-hearted chap outside of the ring during his career, you shouldn't underestimate his talent and achievements as a fighter.

to be fair he is a nice guy and all but people did tend to take the pee out of his boxing performances

Originally Posted by sligobhoy67

you make me sick. Just because you havent a clue about boxing you trying and make out that other poster are somehow infatuated with Dunne!!

Who said he was great - when was this ever said??

On this thread you've made yourself out to be as ignorant about boxing as Conlan is!!

full of cliched one liners but then when faced with facts you ignore it and jump to another half baked bullshiit point!

If its because he is not from Belfast then just come out and say it - because I really cant see that you have any valid points on this thread!

Carl Frampton is fight next week, Martin Lindsay and John Duddy are fighting next month and McCloskey is fighting in Belfast in May - I will be supporting them just as much as I do any fighter from south of the border. Maybe you should lose the chip on your shoulder and start looking at Dunnes career with a little more balance!

Calm down, calm down, what nerve did I hit here!
Your facts - world champion Irish fighter, huge in Sligo and the rest of Ireland,
and my facts (!)not known at all to many of the sporting public outside of this island - unless you are an into your boxing mags, and European version of ESPN
Whats the problem? take a chill pill if you are unhappy cause you will have a long season of worry with Sligo thats for sure!!