Headlines vs. Carlos Fulgencio, Aug. 8 in Rochester, NY
Photo by Amy Wiley
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (July 29, 2012) – Undefeated featherweight prospectPatrick “The Punisher” Hyland is on the brink of establishing an Irish boxing record for the most consecutive victories starting a professional career.
Dublin-native Hyland (26-0, 12 KOs), now living in Marlboro (NY), shoots for his 27th Irish record-setting win in a row on Wednesday night, August 8, headlining an outdoor show, presented by Pretty Girl Promotions, at Sahlen Stadium in Rochester, New York.
Hyland takes on hard-hitting Dominican Carlos “El Flaco” Fulgencio (19-7-1, 12 KOs) in the 10-round main event.
Promoted by Final Round Promotions/Team Snooki Boxing, Hyland tied the record of 26, set by “Ireland’s” John Duddy in 2009, with his devastating fourth-round stoppage of Frankie Archuleta (27-9-1) this past May in Poughkeepsie.
“This will be a fantastic achievement and I’ll always be remembered in Irish boxing history when people see my record,” Hyland said. “I’d really like to top it off with a world title. As a fighter, I’m thinking that I need 10 strong weeks of training and I’d be ready to fight anybody in the world, but I realize my management team is preparing me for a world title shot and it takes time. They’ve kept me very busy. This is my third fight this year and I hope to be fighting again in September or October. I work hard in the gym every day, especially on my defense, and you never really stop learning in this game. I watch big fights and all of the different styles to plan how I’d plan to beat each style.
“I’m excited about fighting in Rochester because there are a lot of Irish families there and it’s not too far for my friends to get to from Poughkeepsie. My opponent is a stand-up fighter with 12 knockouts in 19 fights. He has a good counter-right that I have to look out for.”
The fast rising, 28-year-old Hyland is the reigning World Boxing Federation (“WBF”) featherweight champion, who is rated No. 4 by the North American Boxing Organization (“NABO”), as well as No. 5 by the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) and United States Boxing Association (USBA).
“We at Final Round Promotions/Team Snookie Boxing are excited and proud of the possibility that Patrick will set a new Irish boxing record for 27 consecutive wins without a loss to start his professional career,” Final Round Promotions/Team Snookie Boxing Vice President Mike Pascale added. “Patrick has the heart and mind of a champion. His work ethic and preparation for any fight is incredible. There is no doubt that Patrick is a force to deal with in the featherweight division and it will not be long before he fights for a major world title.
“So, I say to any promoters of featherweight champions, bring it on, if you’re willing to take the risk.”
Here’s a closer look at the longest natural Irish-born boxers’ streaks to start their respective pro careers:
1. (tie) 26, John Duddy, 2003-09
Patrick Hyland, 2004-Present
3. 25, Johnny Caldwell, 1958-61
4. 20, Wayne McCullough, 1993-96
5. 17, Jimmy McClarin, 1923-24
6. 16, Stevie Collins, 1986-89
7. 15, Andy Lee, 2006-08
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
