Breen would tell you that promoting the noble art is not his cup of tea, and in a department of the game with such a sulphurous whiff of risk and let-down at times, that`s understandable. "I`m first and foremost a boxing coach," says the man who ranks Dave McAuley as the best of Ireland`s world champions, better even than Barry McGuigan.
JOHN Breen had his fingers burned badly the last time he promoted boxing in the Ulster Hall. £8,000 was the agonising sum of his losses on a night in which two young fighters were paid just for turning up. Sadly, both their opponents didn`t!
Breen would tell you that promoting the noble art is not his cup of tea, and in a department of the game with such a sulphurous whiff of risk and let-down at times, that`s understandable. "I`m first and foremost a boxing coach," says the man who ranks Dave McAuley as the best of Ireland`s world champions, better even than Barry McGuigan.
"Nobody has ever made money from professional boxing in the Ulster Hall, but for the sake of a good stable of fighters, I`ve got to try.
"I`m only doing it to keep the sport alive. Otherwise, there would be little or no work for the boys."
The pick of Breen`s city centre gym strip for action on the first Ulster Hall show of the year tonight week, so John`s sudden attack of vertigo several days ago was a body blow he didn`t expect.
"I can`t be sure what brought it on," he apologised. "My head was spinning, and I wanted to lie down. It`s the only time in over 40 years I`ve ever deserted my post!"
Always the gentleman, John tries to make time for everybody, even when under pressure. The big guy hates fuss or fanfare, and can often be dismissive of his own talent. Never once have I seen him lose his cool in a crisis.
"He`s one of the most well-liked and generous people I`ve ever known," agreed longtime friend, Barney Eastwood.
"We first met when John was 20 and an Ulster amateur champion (at middleweight), and he hasn`t changed. Boxing is his life. Nobody was surprised when he married into one of the sport`s best-known families. Laura, his wife, is a daughter of Mike Callahan, who was once my matchmaker."
Breen (55) was part of the Eastwood team that took boxing by storm in the McAuley-Espana era, and right now, John prides himself in managing and training Eamonn Magee and Wayne Alexander, both fighters of title status.
"Neil Sinclair was with me, too, as a British champion, and is another fighter of class," insists John.
"I`m happy he has gone to New York to further his career. He`s a great puncher whose best days will come with more good fights, and when he learns to drop down a gear."
Vinty McGurk, now a sprightly 85, is man-Friday in the Breen gym, and, like John, pays glowing tribute to the fan who made this sporting dream possible, bookmaker-publican Tony Diver.
"We`ve been here seven years, and without Tony it wouldn`t have happened," says the silver-haired octogenarian.
"You`ll find us losing sweat most afternoons above the Monico Lounge in Lombard Street."
Promoter Breen reckons he will need to sell over 1,300 tickets to break even next Saturday, but he`ll not be disappointed, I feel.
Kevin O`Hara tops a bill that reminds me of the best of Ulster Hall fight nights 40 years ago, courtesy of Barney Eastwood.
Gardai are said to be baffled by the motive for John Mahon`s killing in Fermoy.
Father-of-five John, a 60-year-old painting contractor, was fatally wounded by a lone gunman as he got out of his car near home. He was president of amateur boxing`s Munster Council, and one of Ireland`s leading judges.
