Dublin-born heavyweight Thomas Hardwick will be in the limelight again April 28 when he appears on the Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson II undercard at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City April 28.
The unbeaten Hardwick is getting used to the big stage now having fought on the Matthew Macklin-Sergio Martinez world middleweight title card at Madison Square Garden on St. Patrick’s Day.
He is now relishing fighting before one of the most anticipated rematches in recent years before several thousand fans.
“It’s a good card to be on and I’m getting ready for it,” the Yonkers bricklayer, who’s 5-0 with two KOs since turning pro last May, told the Echo last Saturday. “I’m hoping it’s a six-rounder.”
He was an impressive four-round points winner over Tyrone Gibson on March 17 at the Garden; and while his opponent in Atlantic City has yet to be named, he said he’d be ready for anyone.
Hardwick returns to Atlantic City for the second time since his debut. He stopped Rodelle Bolar in the third round at Resorts Hotel & Casino last July.
Hardwick’s inclusion on the Hopkins-Dawson II undercard is due in part to the fact that he shares managers Walter Cane, an Irish –American lawyer, with Dawson. The latter will be defending his World Boxing Council light heavyweight crown for the second time against the veteran Hopkins.
In their first meeting last October, Hopkins, who’s 47, was unable to continue after injuring his shoulder in the second round.
HYLAND FIGHT
Patrick Hyland, the only one of the three fighting Hyland brothers from Dublin based States-side, headlines his own “Irish Invasion” card May 12 at Mid-Hudson Civic Center in upstate Poughkeepsie. His opponent will be announced later.
The undefeated Hyland [25-0, 11 KOs] is the World Boxing Federation super featherweight title. He previously held the IBF and Irish featherweight belts and the IBA Inter-Continental super featherweight crown.
Ranked 12th by the North American Boxing Association, the 28 year-old will be fighting in the United States for the fifth time. His last outing was an eight-round unanimous points decision over Mexican Emmanuel Lucero [26-8-1] in January.
"We have a future world champion in Patrick Hyland, who is an exciting fighter with a 25-0 record," said co-promoter Mike Pascale. “Boxing fans in this area have bought into Patrick as one of their own. This is a rare opportunity for them to watch Patrick fight, up close and personal, before he moves on to larger venues pursuing his world title shot.”
The show is presented by Final Round Promotions, operated by Pascale and Brian Burke, in association with Team Snooki Boxing and Bob Duffy's Ring Promotions.
