Gaelic Park, the iconic venue of Irish sporting events for generations in New York’s Bronx neighborhood, records a memorable first on Sept. 26. That’s when Galway-born Harley Burke takes a crack at Dubliner Emmet Brennan’s Boxing Union of Ireland Celtic super middleweight title over eight rounds.
“This will be the first professional [boxing show] and the first one outdoors there -- I believe it's gonna be on the field around the 50-yard line,” Burke, a Yonkers resident, told the Echo. “It's gonna be mostly showcasing Irish talent. I think there will be a few amateur fights and then a few pro fights.”
Burke vs. Brennan will be a battle of undefeated prospects with different ring backgrounds.
Brennan was a decorated amateur who represented Ireland at the 2020 Olympics. He lost in the Round of 32. As a pro, the Dubliner is 6-0 with one KO. Still, he’s a battle-tested fighter whose last bout was a hard fought 10-round unanimous points decision over “The Kingdom Warrior” Kevin Cronin at Madison Square Garden last March.
Also undefeated, Burke [10-0, 7 KOs] grew up in upstate New York, a huge fan of John Duddy, the former world middleweight title contender who was at one time the biggest Irish name in boxing States-side.
Burke started boxing at age 11, had his first competitive fight at 13 but was never really a fan of the amateur game because of his naturally professional style based on power.
“I never really liked the amateurs, [it] never really suited my style,” Burke, who’s 30, said. “I was always more of a puncher and the amateurs is more of a points system, as you know. It never suited me so I only had about 15 or16 amateur fights. I turned pro in 2019 right after the Golden Gloves.”
He boasts power in both hands, as the seven knockouts in 10 fights on his ledger attest to.
That, however, is not the only source of his confidence ahead of his first title shot. Asked if he was up to the challenge against an Olympian, Burke’s response was emphatic.
“Hundred percent – yeah! The greater the challenge, the harder I'm going to fight and the harder I'm going to prepare,” he said. “And now it's already been underway. I'm already feeling way better than I did in any camp ever.
“He's gonna bring it out of me. If I just fight a journeyman or something, you know, I'll prepare like that. It’s just the truth of it. I need someone like this. When it's all said and done, I'm going to thank him for bringing it out of me because I know what my duty is, and I'm not gonna play around with him. It’s the right time for me. I need this challenge and I’m up for it a 100 percent.”
Burke’s coming off a dominating six-round points decision over Bronx firefighter Louis Maietta in White Plains last June.
Apart from a week-long break after that fight, and fortnight off in July because of a bug, he’s been in the gym all summer preparing for his next fight.
