Guess Who's Back? Darren Corbett is back and sharper than ever with slicker boxing skills and a fantastic display bringing his fight fans to their feet after a repeated barrage of hooks to the body saw Yorkshire man Clint Johnston fold in the fourth of a scheduled ten on Saturday April 5th. Johnston did make the count, but was stopped on his feet by referee David Irvine.
The next step for Darren now is probably a challenge for the WBC International title against the current champ from Macedonia, Mitrevski. Darren's manager has released details that negotiations via e-mails were already ongoing and will now be looking to seal a date probably sometime in May or June and lets hope at the Ulster hall. However, as Corbett made clear at last weeks press conference at the Holiday Inn, Tony Oakey is the man he really wants for the WBU World title before the end of the year. After Saturday's performance the Corbett camp can be very happy that he is firmly back on track despite having had problems finding sparring partners coming into this fight. New Yorker Kevin Dever, now managing Darren said "We found it impossible to get anyone in England to come to Belfast and spar with Darren, so that situation will need to be sorted out very soon. Good sparring is essential for his next fight" said Dever.

A 1,200 strong crowd witnessed a fine night of professional boxing at the Ulster Hall, courtesy of first time promoter Paul McCausland.
The N.Ireland Area Lightweight title fight between Gary Hamilton and Dafydd Carlin was without doubt the bout of the night. Carlin in the end winning on points 97 - 95. It was a great domestic war but in the end Carlin's boxing began to ware Hamilton down and a strong eighth round put Carlin in the lead with two rounds remaining. In the ninth round Hamilton got a new lease of life when under pressure on the ropes he caught Carlin with three blistering left to the body left hook to the head combinations. However, he wasn't able to keep the pressure on and the last round was pretty even. It was a superb bout to re-launch the N.Ireland Area title's which were last contested forty-five years ago. There could be a rematch on the cards an those who saw the bout on Saturday I'm sure will be eager to snap up tickets for that one.

Former Ulster Senior Champion Ciaran Healy launched his pro career with an excellent points win over late replacement Thomas Da Silva of Brazil. Da Silva who is boxing out of London seemed like a risky opponent to settle on with a record of 7- 3 -1 and also height and reach advantage. Despite having come under dangerous pressure in the second round Ciaran showed good composure and came back very strongly in the third and fourth and clinched the win 39-37.

Tommy Tolan delighted a huge following of fans by scoring his first professional win. He lost his first contest to Da Silva who as mentioned above was beaten by Ciaran Healy. Tolan shook his opponent Atherton with a right hook midway through the first round followed by a short combination of hooks put Atherton on the canvas for a count. The Liverpodlian replied reminding Tolan to keep his guard up with a good left hook early in the second, but Tolan responded superbly with a big right flooring his opponent once again. After a count Tolan waded in with more pressure shots and Ref David Irvine called the bout to a halt.

Newtownards Stevie Quinn fought his 24th pro bout and scored his eleventh win after the referee stopped his contest with Marty Kaye in the fifth round. Quinn looked to be marking badly around both eyes and Kayes to had a nick on his head, but it was the left jab of Quinn which drained the Downpatrick mans energy and David Irvine stopped the bout in the fifth.

Belfast's Paul McIlwaine and Barnsley's Paul Ruston went six two minute rounds in the scrappiest contest of the evening. McIwaine appeared to go all out at the start but struggled to keep any real composure as he gasped for air from the second round. Referee scored it a draw 57-57.

Former Bristish Welterweight champion Derek Roache stepped in for a late replacement demo bout with Larne's Andy Gibson whose opponent pulled out at the eleventh hour. Gibson's record is 4-0 and showed he has got great potential. This was a great evening of boxing and a great first promotion for Paul McCausland. Lets hope boxing will be back at the Ulster Hall again soon.