Timmy Egan was the sole Irish boxer to emerge victorious from the inaugural ‘Celtic Clash’ at Gaelic Park. Egan’s commanding defeat of Gaetano Di Chiara in the 165-pounds weight class extended his unbeaten run to 8 consecutive fights ahead of his Metropolitan Championship bout on Friday.
Fighting on the main card for the first time, Egan started strongly. His superior footwork and movement left him beyond the reach of Di Chiara’s heavy swings. As Di Chiara tired in the final round, Egan punished him with sharp jabs and powerful combos.
To the delight of the crowd the judges handed Egan a unanimous decision, drawing chants of “Olé Olé, Olé” from the Irish crowd. Di Chiara had fought bravely but was ultimately outclassed.
Egan’s coach, Donal Ward, credits Egan’s unique style with his Irish background. “Lots of American fighters want a war, but Timmy just doesn’t get involved,” he said.
‘He’s taught me Irish boxing” Egan agreed. “A lot of these guys haven’t been able to handle that so far.”
Egan fights out of Bua Boxing in Astoria- New York’s only Irish-owned boxing gym. Ward, a
Roscommon native, is looking to nurture Irish boxing talent in New York. “We really promote any Irish fighter that comes to New York” he said.
Egan has fond memories playing Gaelic football in Gaelic Park with his former club O’Donovan Rossas. As a footballer he would often get involved in on-field fisticuffs. ‘It was great to fight in Gaelic Park and not get in trouble for it,” he quipped.
Egan, who grew up boxing in his native Louth only returned to the sport during the pandemic. He stopped boxing when he moved to New York in 2013. ‘When I moved to New York I stopped playing sports altogether, the New York lifestyle got a hold of me’ he said.
His mother is an Irish Traveller, so boxing was always an integral part of his background. “Growing up we were embedded in it,” he said of the sport. “It’s a major part of who I am now at this stage.”
Egan has grand ambitions for his boxing career but, for now, is taking things one step at a time. He manages to train every day despite working full-time at Fiddlesticks, an Irish bar in the West Village. “I think he does be behind the bar boxing,” said his coach Donal Ward.
A strong crowd came out to support the other Irish fighters. Marty Kelly, from Newcastle, Co. Down was making his amateur debut in the 143-pounds weight class. “My friends are coming from everywhere. I’m just happy everyone is getting together” he said.
Kelly experienced the harsh reality of amateur boxing in his knockout defeat to Jorge Zapata. Zapata paid tribute to the Irish crowd after the fight, saying, “You guys got a lot of pride. I respect you guys.”
The Irish crowd extended their support to the Irish American fighters on the card. Kyle McGrath, whose father is Irish, was uplifted by the support. “When you carry that last name, you definitely feel the support especially on a card like tonight” he said.
The “home crowd” could not help McGrath as he came up short against Cyrus Gordon in the 187-pounds main event fight.
The initial fight card had featured a mouth-watering clash between Yonkers native Harley Burke and former Irish Olympian Emmet Brennan. The fight has since been postponed, though Brennan hinted that the fight could well go ahead next Summer. “It might make more sense to do it and get it back on the pitch,” he said.
