Boxing:Bernard Dunne's future plans may remain in doubt but life without him carries on regardless for promoter Brian Peters, who had a less familiar cast by his side when unveiling his latest fightnight this afternoon.
The Meath publican is to bring four Irish title bouts to fight fans in one night at the National Stadium on February 13th - and is billing it as The Next Generation of Fighting Irish.
It’s a far cry from 9,000 in The O2, but top of the bill will be “the long talked about” lightweight decider between unbeaten Cavan boxer Andy Murray and Dublin's Oisin 'Gael Force' Fagan, who has fought and won twice since losing to Eddie Hyland in a bout for the vacant IBF super featherweight title in July.
The first Irish heavyweight title fight in nearly 13 years is on the undercard and will feature Dublin's Colin Kenna against Galway's Coleman Barrett, whose only defeat of an 11 fight career came against Audley Harrison in October.
Kenna has lost his last five fights and nine altogether in a 27-fight career.
Dubliner Anthony Fitzgerald and Leeds based Belfast man Lee Murtagh will vie for the super middleweight title.
Finally, IBF International featherweight title holder Patrick Hyland, unbeaten in his 18 professional bouts, will make the first defence of his Irish belt against London based also-ran Mickey Coveney.
“To have four Irish title fights in one night is amazing when you consider that at the start of the last decade we had a five year period (April 2000 – February 2005) without even one Irish title fight,” said Peters at the Brazen Head this afternoon.
“Next months show underlines just how much the sport has grown here over the last five years and the level of talent that's still emerging through the ranks.
“The main event is a real crossroads clash between Andy and Oisin and it's a fight Irish boxing fans have been talking about for quite a while now,” he added.
“Coleman Barrett did brilliantly in the last heavyweight prizefighter getting to the final. He was winning the final too until he got caught by Audley Harrison so it’s great to see him in an Irish heavyweight title fight and to have that title active again.
“Patrick Hyland and Anthony Fitzgerald have both been very impressive of late so there will be a lot of talent on display next month and with Irish titles on the line there's going to be an awful lot of pride at stake as well.”