TRIP PROVES AMERICAN DREAM FOR ALL SAINTS

The Cushendall Road-based club enhanced its reputation both in the ring and out of it during the nine-day trip to Boston and New York.

“It really was an incredible trip and well worth the year of planning which had gone into making it happen,” All Saints head coach Gerry Hamill told Times Sport.

“If someone had said to me going over to America that we would get a 5-5 draw out of 10 contests I would have been delighted but to win seven out of the 10 bouts was incredible.

“When you consider that the last time an All Saints team went to America we lost nine out of 10 fights it shows what a remarkable performance the boys put in.

“But it wasn’t just the boxing which will stick in the memory – the life experience in general which the lads, particularly the younger ones, picked up will stay with them forever, the people they met, the camaraderie and team bonding and the places they got to visit.

“We also made a number of very good contacts and hopefully we will be able to go back out there or have a team from America come over here.

“Everywhere we went with our All Saints tracksuits on, people stopped and took the time to have a chat with us which meant a lot and the boxing people who saw us in action in Boston were very complimentary about our performance and fitness
levels.

“It wasn’t all about the boxing, though, and the boys also enjoyed getting to see the sights of New York – seeing places like Ground Zero helped put the whole thing into perspective and make them realise how lucky they are to be in the positions they’re in.”

Another of the highlights came when former world middleweight contender John Duddy, now an actor in New York, spent some time with members of the All Saints party, showing them around the ‘city that never sleeps’.

As for the boxing, which took place in Boston, Steven Donnelly earned the top plaudits by beating Rashidi Ellis, ranked number two in America at 69kg, and earning himself the ‘Boxer of the Night’ accolade.

The contests began with a first round win for Aidan Kelly at 46 kg when he proved to be to strong for his opponent Clay Scata.

Jamaine Ortiz then pulled one back for the Boston select with a points win over Vinney Esler at 64 kg in a contest that could have gone either way.

Reece McDonnell put the visitors in front with a great win over Kenny Tiggs after three rounds of very cagey boxing but it was 2-2 when Dean Hughes lost his contest after running out of steam over the last round.

Quinton McDonagh from the Ballymena side then put them back in front with a second round stoppage over Andres Arevalo. McDonagh was too strong for Arevalo and with his southpaw style proving to much for his opponent.

TJ Hamill, making his return after six years out of the sport, hit the scales at 75 kg and proved to be too strong and too fast for Angel Ortiz and on this performance could make a push for next year’s Commonwealth Games. The Boston team took another win after Darren Colvcci defeated Niall McKernan on points.

Dermot Hamill restored All Saints lead with an easy victory over Terrance O’Neil from Boston . This was another good win for Hamill as O’Neil is on the verge of turning pro after being over sparring in the John Breen gym.

Joel Scullion was very controlled in his win over Irvin Gonzalez. Scullion boxed well under pressure and was the cleaner puncher throughout the contest.

A fabulous evening’s boxing was topped off by Donnelly’s stunning win over favourite Ellis.

Donnelly seemed to move into another gear in round two and at times completely overwhelmed the American as he continually pushed him and peppered him with some stinging shots.

With round three over it looked like Steven was home and dry but Ellis was having none of it, He started the third round like he knew he was behind getting straight into the action from the bell he hurt Donnelly with short right hands on several occasions and with an overhand right knocking Steven’s gum shield out, the ref stepped in to retrieve it but Ellis continued to throw punches.

After a warning from the referee Ellis came on stronger and worked hard to put Donnelly away but Steven held on to hear the final bell and claim a great victory.