Boxing: DUNNE EYEING A GRAND SLAM; Bernard looks to Kidney's men for inspiration HUNKY DORY'S FIGHT NIGHT.Byline: MICHAEL EIULLY BERNARD DUNNE Bernard "Ben" Dunne (born February 6, 1980 in Dublin, Ireland) is a professional boxer. He currently fights at Super Bantamweight and is a former EBU Super Bantamweight champion [1]. Amateur Dunne boxed at amateur level for Ireland. will look promotions to Ireland's Grand Slam grand slam n. 1. The winning of all the tricks during the play of one hand in bridge and other whist-derived card games. 2. Sports The winning of all the major or specified events, especially on a professional circuit. hopefuls for extra motivation ahead of his world title shot on Saturday night. Dunne, 29, is a well known GAA and soccer lover - he's a Dublin and Liverpool fanatic - but he is also pals with Shane Horgan Shane Patrick Horgan (born 18 July, 1978 in Bellewstown near Drogheda), County Meath is a rugby union player who plays wing or centre for Leinster and Ireland. He is 6'4"/1.93 m, tall for a winger, and imposing for any opposing wingers. , Brian O'Driscoll Brian Gerald O'Driscoll (born 21 January 1979) is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is the current captain of the Ireland national rugby union team, and was captain of the British and Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. and several other rugby internationals who have come to his fights in the past. Horgan won't be involved in Ireland's bid to beat Wales to capture a first Grand Slam in 61 years in Cardiff having failed to make the 6 Nations squad this year but, along with former Ireland record try holder Denis Hickie Denis Anthony Hickie is a retired professional rugby union footballer employed by the Irish Rugby Football Union. He played his club rugby for Leinster Rugby. His primary position was on the wing. He is also known as Disco Den as a result of his quick feet dancing skills. , he will be at the 02 Dublin to see Dunne take on Ricardo Cordoba cor·do·ba n. See Table at currency. [American Spanish córdoba, after Francisco Fernández de Córdoba (1475?-1526?), Spanish explorer.] Noun 1. for the WBA super bantamweight title, Dunne's challenge is due to get underway at 10.45pm and that will give him ample time to watch Declan Kidney's men attempt to make history at the Millenium Stadium at 5.30pm. The Neilstown man is hoping that victory for Ireland can spur on his own title dream - and he would give anything to be celebrating twice on an historic day as he becomes the first Dubliner to fight for a world title in the capital. "It would be absolutely fantastic, a great weekend for Irish sport," acknowledged the pumped up challenger. "I'm sure I'll get to see the game and hopefully I'll get a bit of a lift off them. I know some of them fairly well -1 know Shane and Brian, and a few of the other lads." And if he does upset the bookies odds and triumph, Dunne admits he'd like to parade the world belt at Dublin's Allianz football league clash with Mayo - but given that the game is in Ballina, it would take some effort to make it. Having said that it's something he might just do, having made the effort to go to Croke Park to watch his beloved Dubs in action the day after he lost his EBU EBU European Broadcasting Union EBU English Bridge Union EBU Enterprise Backup Utility (Oracle 7) EBU European Boxing Union EBU European Board of Urology EBU Electronic Business Unit EBU Equivalent Billing Unit EBU Engine Build Unit crown in August 2007. Dunne's comments indicated the sort of mood Dunne was in yesterday as he faced the media along with interim belt holder Cordoba for the last time before Friday afternoon's weigh-in. Looking in great physical shape and full of confidence, he says he is ready for the biggest night of his life on a bill that also includes Katie Taylor, Andy Lee and Olympic bronze medallist Paddy Barnes. "I can't wait to get in the ring and get it on," Dunne quipped. "I'm absolutely buzzing for it. "You live in the moment, you keep working and stay focussed - they are the attributes I've had for the last 10 years or so and for this fight I've had no problem tuning in tuning in, v process in which a therapeutic touch practitioner centers himself or herself so as to be aligned with or “in tune” with a healing energy “frequency,” so that the patient may choose to join the practitioner (tune over the last 10 to 12 weeks. It's been the hardest but quickest camp I've been involved in." Dunne doesn't believe that his career bears any resemblance to that of Amir Khan, who is aiming to reach the top again after a shock first round knock-out - the same fate that befell Dunne against Kiko Martinez almost 18 months ago, which cost him his European title. Khan beat Barrera at the weekend but Dunne insists he is taking no particular encouragement from that. "No, I take encouragement from how I've been preparing, how I've looked in the gym and how the last few fights have gone," he said. Cordoba, though, has arrived in Dublin as world champion and with three American judges and a Canadian referee - Hubert Earle, who also took the Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jnr contest before Christmas - flown in for the fight, Dunne will have it all to do. "I want to thank everyone in Ireland for giving me a great welcome," Cordoba said. "Now I want to show them why I'm world champion." Cordoba has only fought outside of his native Panama on three occasions - and they resulted in two draws in Germany and a loss in Thailand. "I don't see these experiences as negative, they were among by very best fights," the 24-year-old claimed. "I'm in great shape and I look forward to retaining my title." But Dunne reckons the 9,000 crowd will give him the edge. "The advantage I have with the fight in Dublin is fantastic," he said. "This is my chance to reach the top. I've just been so excited." It would be a great weekend for Irish sport..l'm sure Til get to see the game and hopefully I'll get a bit of a lift off them... CAPTION(S): SHOWDOWN Ricardo Cordoba and Bernard Dunne at yesterday's press conference and, inset the Irish rugby team |
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