Sean O'Bradaigh won his second major regional amateur title when he outpointed Jormill Colomba Rodriguez in the New York Boxing Tournament’s 176-pound Elite final at the Classic Car Club of Manhattan at Pier 76 last week.
O'Bradaigh, who bagged the 2023 Ring Masters/Golden Gloves middleweight novice title at Madison Square Garden in April, dominated his opponent from Morris Park BC in the Bronx en route to a three round unanimous points decision. There were no knockdowns.
“The first round was close,” said O'Bradaigh, a 21-year-old New York University undergraduate. “I think as the fight started to go on, I started to take more and more control and then in the third round had some pretty big moments.
“I rocked him with a good shot at one point -- it was a right uppercut -- he went to the corner and I started teeing off on him, but then he was grabbing me and then it was close to the end of the fight so I couldn't get the stoppage. But yeah, the third round was pretty dominant on my end. It was great.”
Trained by Angel Rivera, the unattached O'Bradaigh, with Dublin roots on his father’s side, had scored a massive win on his way to the final. That’s when he defeated Tyric Trapp, ranked #5 in the U.S., in the quarterfinals.
The competitors make common cause with Ukraine. Photo Ed Alvarez [@edthefitographer on instagram]
O'Bradaigh had lost to Trapp, of the Gleason’s Jersey Shore club, in the semi-finals of the Nationals in Texas in June. “A month later I rematched him and beat him, which is a really big deal for me.”
That sweet victory eventually put O'Bradaigh in the final after the double disqualification [for dirty fighting] of both of his potential semi-final foes in his bracket.
LAST CHANCE
Next up for the emerging amateur prospect is the “The Last Chance Olympic Qualifier” at the Pueblo Convention Center in Pueblo, Colorado, Sept. 9 -16.
“It's exactly that,” he explained. “It’s basically the last chance to make the Olympic trials for the U.S. team.”
Then it’s back to New York for a rematch with Israel Bailey who he edged on split points in the Ring Masters/Golden Gloves middleweight novice in the spring. O'Bradaigh squares off with the Southbox Gym fighter from the Bronx for the SBC title on Sept. 28 at the Melrose ballroom in Long Island City, Queens.
HARDY LOSS
Heather “The Heat” Hardy survived 10 hellacious rounds against Amanda Serrano at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. But for the second time in four years, the Irish American out of Brooklyn came up short against the now undisputed world featherweight champion.
Grit is what Hardy, who’s 41, mostly had to offer on the night. Serrano, seven years younger and a nine-time world champion in seven divisions, was relentless in defense of her belt. She used her jab to set up her attacks to the body and head.
Hardy’s fightback was sporadic and ineffective. In the end the challenger, eyes swollen and face bloodied, was applauded for her courage.
She lost all the rounds on two cards [100-99] and was credited for nicking a round on the third judge’s card [99-91].
Hardy had previously fought and lost to Serrano at Madison Square Garden in Sept. 2019.
CELTIC NIGHT
Irish fighters with monikers such as “The Tank,” “The Kid,” and “The Governor” highlight the “Veterans Stadium Showcase” at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, Massachusetts, this Friday. Saturday is the rain date. The fights will be streamed live on www.bxngtv.com.
Said unbeaten middleweight Francis “Frank the Tank” Hogan [14-0, 13 KOs] at last week’s press conference: “I’ve been learning in training camp Just another guy (Miguel Angel Suarez) in my way. I plan to run right through him. My fans are going to love seeing me fight.”
A 2020 USA Boxing Olympic Team alternate and 2019 New England Golden Gloves Champion, Hogan has Donegal roots.
Galway product Thomas “The Kid” O’Toole (7-0, 5 KOs) meets Massachusetts state champion Scott “Scottie Bombz” Lampert (5-8, 4 KOs) over six rounds for the vacant United States Boxing Federation (USBF) cruiserweight title. He said: “I’m really looking forward to fighting in Quincy. There are a lot of good fighters on this good. It’s going to be a good night of boxing and, no doubt I’m going to win that title.”
And Corkman Tommy “The Governor” Hyde, a three-time Irish National Champion, takes on the seasoned Robert Talarek [27-20-3, 18 KOs] in a six-round light heavyweight bout.
Tickets for the show are available at www.EventBrite.com. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with amateur matches starting at 6:30 p.m. and the pro fights at 8 p.m.
