The fighting Irish

The Irish had another reason to celebrate on Irish Day last Saturday, when Long Beach’s own pro boxer Seanie Monaghan clinched yet another victory when he defeated opponent Kentrell Claiborne during the light heavyweight boxing bout in Atlantic City. Monaghan won by technical knockout in the fourth of a six round fight. Monaghan is now 9-0, with six knockouts under his belt.

“[Seanie] started connecting his punches late in the first round … and then he stopped him in four,” said Monaghan’s manager, P.J. Kavanagh. “We knew [Claiborne] was going to be a strong starter, he came heavy-handed and we knew he had some power, but Seanie’s defense worked and once he started backing him up with his jab, the guy really had no answer to that. The doctor came up after and said what stopped that guy was the body punches Seanie landed. The guy was done.”

On Oct. 22, Monaghan will continue his meteoric rise in the professional boxing world when he aims for his tenth win during his next bout at Madison Square Garden, which Kavanagh said is the biggest and most important fight of his career.

Monagahan will face Anthony Pietrantonio (7-7) of Ohio, before HBO’s main event featuring bantamweight World Champion Nonito Donaire. Kavanagh said they are not taking the Pietrantonio fight lightly.

“He’s coming out of a tough fighting town in Youngstown, Ohio,” he said. “But it’s exciting for Seanie to make it to his tenth pro fight, especially when he’s trying to make 10-0.”

And Kavanagh said that Monaghan has grown as a fighter since he turned pro more than year ago. “The way he’s just learning and maturing, he’s progressed so much and we’re starting to move up in rounds,” Kavanagh said. “DiBella [Entertainment] said the other night that he’s the most exciting fighter at these fights — he has no limitations now, and he can take the punches as well.”

Monaghan will move from six to eight round fights after his bout at the Garden, Kavanagh said. Monaghan is also hoping for a shot at the title in his homeland of Ireland early next year.

“We’re trying to set up a fight for the Irish title,” Kavanagh said. “They’re willing to come over here to fight in New York, and we’re trying to set this up for the New Year, possibly on the card in March, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.”

Tickets for the Oct. 22 fight at Madison Square Garden are available at $50 and $100, and can be purchased at the Saloon. Call (516) 432-9185 for more information.