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On Saturday April 27 at the
legendary York Hall in London,
England, Chris Goodwin will face
Oisin Fagan for the vacant World
Boxing Federation
Intercontinental Lightweight
title on a show billed as
“Thunder & Lightning” by
promoters
Mark
McCormick / Fight Options & Dave
Murphy.
The younger man by fifteen
years, Goodwin (24) will enter
the ring as a former two-time
International Masters champion
and with a fine professional
record of 16-2-1 (0). Remarkably
he has yet to score his first
stoppage in the paid ranks, and
it seems a long-shot that he
will do so against the tough
Fagan.
Goodwin turned pro in 2006 with
a loss on points to another
debutant, Chris Mullen, but
since then only former British
champion Carl Johanneson has
managed to get the better of
him, and only by split decision,
when they fought last year.
In Oisin Fagan, 26-8 (15), the
Chester-technician will be in
with an opponent who has
“been-there-done-that”! In 2003
the Irishman made his pro debut
in what was then his adopted
hometown, Oklahoma City, USA,
and won five of his first six
bouts before squaring off with
another up-and-coming
lightweight, the 4-0 Julio Cesar
Chavez Jr.
While Chavez won that fight on
points, Fagan was more
successful the following year
when he captured the Oklahoma
State title, an accomplishment
which started an eleven fight
winning-streak that only ended
when undefeated former world
champion Paul Spadafora (39-0-1
at the time) edged him by split
decision in 2007.
Since coming up short against
Spadafora, Fagan has gone 9-4
against mostly good opposition,
and only lost title fights to
Verquan Kimkrough (by split
decision), Amir Khan, Eddie
Hyland and Andy Murray. Since
2008 he has been back in Dublin,
and he is reportedly focused on
teaching the young Goodwin a
lesson in London.
Thunder & Lightning, the Chris
Goodwin vs. Osin Fagan World
Boxing Federation
Intercontinental Lightweight
title fight, is a true clash
between promising prospect and
seasoned campaigner. Goodwin has
youth, speed and technique on
his side, while Fagan has a
clear edge in power and
experience.
It remains to be seen what, and
who, will prevail at York Hall,
a venue that has more boxing
history than most arenas in the
world.
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