[caption id="attachment_71484" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Dubliner Patrick Hyland fights in Upstate New York on Saturday night."]
The plan hatched by his handlers is for Patrick "The Punisher" Hyland to break into world title contention by defeating American veteran Frankie Archuleta at upstate Poughkeepsie's Mid-Hudson Civic Center this Saturday.
Tracy Harris Patterson, Hyland's trainer, believes the undefeated super featherweight [25-0, 11 KOs] is on the fringe of a world title shot but needs a defining fight to get him noticed.
"He just hasn't been given an opportunity, yet, to step into the ring with an opponent who can get him in position for a world title shot. He's at the door now," said Patterson, a two-time world champion himself during his fighting days.
Hyland, rated sixth by the United States Boxing Association and holder of the fringe World Boxing Federation super featherweight belt, agrees whole-heartedly. He sees Archuleta [27-9-1, 14 KOs] as a stepping stone to the next level.
"I know he's a veteran and that he's been in there with top class opposition," the 28 year-old Dubliner told the Echo on Sunday. "Hopefully this fight will spark me on to bigger and better things."
Archuleta, who's 36, is a former New Mexico and Texas State champion. The highlight of his 16-year career was beating five-time world champion Johnny Tapia at super bantamweight in 2004. He also lost a 12-rounder to world title challenger Emmanuel Lucero in 2002.
Hyland outpointed Lucero [26-9-1, 14 KOs] over eight rounds in his last bout five months ago. He's prepared hard for Archuleta who fights out of New Mexico.
"I've been training very hard," he said. "Over one hundred rounds of sparring for this 10-rounder, so the conditioning is there. If it goes 10 rounds, [I'll] be ready."
Hyland is one of three prizefighting brothers from Dublin. His older brother, Eddie and father, Patrick, Sr., are scheduled in from Ireland this week for the fight. Eddie will be rooting for his young brother, while Patrick, Sr. will work his son's corner with trainer Patterson.
Hyland vs. Archuleta is the main event of card billed "Irish Invasion." It is presented by Final Round Promotions co-owned by Brian Burke, in association with Team Snooki Boxing and
Bob Duffy's Ring Promotions, and sponsored in part by Title Boxing. Tickets, priced at $35, $50 and $100 [gold ringside], are available at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and through all Ticketmaster outlets. Visit www.finalroundpromotions.com for more information.
