A year and a half ago, Declan Friel was, by his own estimation, overweight and determined to do something about it, so he started boxing.
This Friday, the Donegal native enters the ring for only the third time as an amateur to face FDNY Emergency Medical Technician Patrick McKeown in a highlight bout of the latest “Thrilla in Camilla” card at St. Camillus Church in Rockaway Beach, Queens.
Billed as “Celebrating a Decade of Beachside Boxing,” the show features 10 bouts, including Friel’s BUA Boxing gym-mate Tim Egan in a 165-pound scrap with Bronx firefighter Oliver Patrouch.
“Fitness is good, weight is good, so, yeah, just ready to go now,” Friel, who’ll fight at 158-pounds, told the Echo. “It should be a good night [and] hopefully I’ll get the win.”
Friel and Egan return to action for the first time since both participated in the MSG Boxing Ring Masters tournament this spring. Friel put up a spirited fight against Januel Cabrera before succumbing on points in the 154-pound novice class, while Egan, out of Dundalk, lost to the nationally ranked Carmine Gentile in the semi-finals of the 165-pound Elite division.
The Ring Masters’ 165-pound Novice champion in 2025, it was Egan’s first defeat in the tournament over two years.
Following is the entire bout sheet for the 10th “Thrilla in Camilla” card, presented by the Fire Department of New York [FDNY] boxing club, who’s president is Bobby McGuire. FDNY fighters are listed first.
1] Light heavyweight - Jamil Ali [FDNY Eng. Co. 318] vs. Eduard Cuenca Macias [FDNY EMS St. 10];
2] Welterweight - John Marrero [FDNY EMS St. 3] vs. Merrick Hickaro [Woodside Boxing Club];
3) Bantamweight - Stephanie Valentin [FDNY Eng. 294] vs. Despoina Karatziou [Mendez Boxing Club];
4] Cruiserweight - Kyle McGrath [Champs Boxing] vs. Jeremy Witherspoon [Woodside];
5] Junior Welterweight - Brendan O’Niel [Woodside] vs. Randy Martinez [Bronxchester Gym];
6] Heavyweight - Jason Bergin [FDNY Ladd. 5] vs. Aiden Haran [Woodside];
7] Middleweight - Oliver Patrouch [FDNY Eng. 50] vs. Tim Eagan [BUA Boxing];
8] Heavyweight - Sean Massimo [FDNY Ladd. 59] vs. Eric Wendt [FDNY Div. 3];
9] Super Heavyweight - Dmitriy Teplitskiy [FDNY Ladd. 173] vs. Josh Bungalso [Woodside]; and
10] Super Welterweight - Patrick McKeown [FDNY EMS St. 47] vs. Declan Friel [BUA Boxing].
St. Camillus is located at 99-15 Rockaway Beach Blvd in Rockaway, Queens. The first bout begins at 7:30 p.m. [gates open at 6:30 p.m.]. Tickets are pegged at $40, $60 ringside and $100 ringside table seating.
