Cork boxer Tommy Hyde busy preparing for next bout in Boston

Tommy 'the Governor' Hyde will be back in action in the ring on Friday, October 25th when he fights Englishman Adam Hepple at the Anside Event Centre in Boston in an eight-round bout.

This will be Hyde’s tenth fight and he will be eager to continue his unbeaten record.

Hyde was due to fight in Melbourne last August but after an ankle injury he sustained in sparring, that bout was cancelled.

In recent weeks Tommy was stripped of his Irish Celtic belt by the Boxing Union of Ireland, a decision that he only found out about on social media, however, he is now fully focused on his fight and plans to be out again in Ireland by the end of the year.

Tommy has been at training camp in Manchester for the last few weeks under his new British trainer Lee Beard, who replaces Pedro Neme. 

This was a good logistic move by Hyde’s management as he now can fly to Manchester for camp instead of travelling to America for his fights. Beard is a well-known trainer as he has worked with the great Floyd Mayweather and was in the corners of Ricky Hatton, Argenis Mendez, Joan Guzman and Jack Catterall.

“I am looking forward to this fight in Boston, however, my opponent Adam Hepple will be a tricky fight for me, as he will be looking to make a name for himself in America, so that makes him extra dangerous,” Tommy said.

“Although I was stripped of my Irish Celtic title, I have nothing but respect for the two lads Kevin Cronin and Emmet Brennan who fought for the title recently, and they have to concentrate on their own careers. 

However, I was deeply disappointed that I had to find out on social media about the decision. 

"It’s in the past now and I’m now only focused on this first against Hepple."

The 6' 2" Hepple has a record of four wins and one loss in his professional career to date, losing to Lancashire talent Reece Farnhill when he was stopped in the fourth round. 

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Tommy’s last outing was against American fighter Noah Kidd at the Sun Casino Connecticut, Boston last June, a fight where he stopped his opponent in the fourth round with a trademark body shot.

“I have a new trainer Lee Beard for this fight and he is one of the best in the business, as he has been in the corner of some big names in the world of boxing. 

"He is based in Manchester, so it is easier for me to go there Monday to Friday and come home at the weekends to be with my family and friends and work at my bar Hannah Bawns.

“Even though Hepple has only five fights to date, he is a very strong lad and I will have to be at my best to beat him. 

My training camp has gone well in Manchester and I will start my sparring this week with some really good fighters coming in to help me prepare.

“Hpefully I will have one more fight before the end of the year, however, my plan is that I will be fighting for a Continental or European title next year, so I will have to step up to 10-round bouts early next year."