'Amazing' experience as Danny Boyle swaps the lights of London for win in Donegal

Danny Boyle would dearly love another chance to fight at home in Donegal.

The Dungloe man defeated Daniel Borisov on Saturday’s Rumble In The Hills show in Letterkenny.

Boyle claimed a shut-out 60-53 win to the delight of a big home following from west Donegal.

“I never thought that this could happen,” Boyle said. “I can’t believe that I’ve come from fighting in York Hall to here in Donegal.

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“To be able to come here and build a base here is amazing. It’s great to come here and see all the young kids out watching fights. It felt a bit surreal to be out there getting photos taken and stuff like that. Even walking in here was amazing.”

Boyle returned to winning ways having drawn with Harry Collison at York Hall in September and now holds a 3-0-1 record.

Little did he think a chance for a swift bout would present him with the chance to fight in Donegal.  Such was Boyle’s surprise, he initially believed that an Instagram message from Jason Quigley - who was behind taking Saturday’s show to Donegal - was a wind-up, but he was soon zoning in for a big homecoming.

Dressed in the green and gold of Donegal and draped in a Donegal flag, Boyle walked to the ring to Daniel O’Donnell’s ‘Home To Donegal’ - surely the first time the Kincasslagh crooner has been used as a ring walk song.

Danny Boyle with his coaches. 

Wins over Robbie Chapman and Kristaps Zulgis got Boyle’s pro journey off and winning before Collison halted his march just two months ago.

Midway through the opening verse, Boyle was caught with a right to the body, but responded in kind soon after with a neat left.

By the end of the third, Borisov was breathing heavily and slipped in the fourth before Boyle landed a short right on the chin.

Borisov was warned twice by referee Paul McCullagh in the fourth round and was eventually docked a point. The Bulgarian stood to the last and gave what he could.

Boyle said: “I felt I could have done a lot better in the fight and I know I have stuff to work on, but it was just amazing to get this chance.

“I can’t get the shots away with my long arms inside and he was closing down the distance.

“It was a great learning experience for me. He was here to survive and I hurt him a few times. He’s been about and been in there with some very good fighters.”

The London-based scaffolder was cornered by Mark Jean-Pierre and Emmanuel Emeonye.

A relative latecomer to the sport, Boyle started boxing at 16 and won two Irish Third Level titles while at Dungloe Boxing Club. As he left the ring after his win, Boyle spent a few moments with Jim McCole, his former coach.

He said: “Jim has meant a lot for me. When Jim had his accident, I was out of boxing for a long time. Jim knows me so well - probably better than anyone.”

Boyle will return to London and look to build on his record - but the taste of a fight on home soil has left him wanting more.

He said: “I want to do as much back here as I can. I’ll speak to Jason and the guys here and see what’s happening and I’ll speak to my team in London too.”