PROFESSIONAL boxing makes its long-awaited return to Donegal with Rumble In The Hills: Rising Stars – a stacked showcase of emerging talent promoted by Ballybofey’s Jason Quigley and his promotional company, Sheer Sports.
Taking place on October 18th at the Aura Leisure Complex in Letterkenny – and live on Triller TV – the event is set to spotlight the next wave of Irish boxing prospects. The card is headlined by Tyrone’s Callum Bradley, with Mayo’s Eoghan Lavin in the co-main event, and features a host of exciting young fighters from across the Emerald Isle.
The timing is spot on. The wind is in the sails of Irish boxing in 2025, both globally and locally. Crocker/Donovan has sold out Windsor Stadium, whilst contenders like Aaron McKenna pose a serious threat to belt-holders on the international scene. Rumble in the Hills is timed perfectly to capitalise on this momentum.
Jason Quigley’s life has been deeply entrenched in boxing and he knows the game inside out. For the former world-ranked middleweight, turned assistant coach and now promoter, the return of professional boxing to Donegal is personal, and part of a long-term vision:
“Donegal has always been the forgotten county, so I wanted to break the mould and get professional boxing moving here again. I want for young kids who want to get into boxing – to not have to go to the UK or America to fight.”
“The very odd time, you might get a fight in Dublin or Belfast. Even they don’t come around that often. I would really love to get something regular going here in Donegal – or in the Northwest of Ireland. People up here really get behind and support their own.”
“To me it would be a dream come true to get a world champion from Donegal and having a massive title fight in Donegal. That’s the real inspiration; to help to inspire the young amateur fighters today that will be in attendance on October 18th.”
“For them to actually feel the atmosphere and seeing it there in front of them – being able to align that with the vision in their head – I think it’s really important for the next generation of boxing to say to themselves: ‘after amateur boxing, this is what I’m going to do.’”
“I want to be able to guarantee fighters from this neck of the woods 3 fights a year, because when you turn pro as a fighter – that’s what you need; to be fighting regularly.”
Quigley’s vision includes creating regular opportunities for fighters from the region to box at home, build fanbases, and stay active – something he believes is long overdue in the Irish boxing scene.
“The short term goal is to get fighters like Rhys Owens, who’s living in Enniskillen – an hour away – to put him in title fights where his friends, family and supporters can easily watch him fight – without having to get on a plane and spend crazy money on hotel rooms; they can just come up and down the road on the same night.”
“It gives young local fighters the chance to fight at home and grow that fanbase and have fun whilst doing it. The Irish boxing market has been very quiet in recent years, but it is starting to get back on track again. It’s great to see.”
Quigley has identified the lack of a roadmap for many fighters to carve out a path to the big-time. Promoters putting on viable shows in Ireland for these fighters to appear on is an integral part of this process.
“It needs to be made easier for young, hungry promoters to come forward and put on shows. To get the backing and the help. Shows are starting to come a lot more regularly and everything’s going really well now in Ireland. There may not be a big TV deal or massive sponsors on board yet, but this is where it all starts.”
He cites the following examples of others building the sport around the country, and believes collaboration is key.
“There’s a lad down in Waterford, Neil Power, that has put on a couple shows and is doing good things. You have Jay Byrne in Dublin who’s putting on some shows. You have the likes of myself, that’s trying to get things going up here. Jamie Conlan is putting on some of the more bigger shows up about Belfast.”
“It’s about touching all these different demographics in the country and everyone working together to get the fighters fights, putting on title bouts and filling that void.”
“I’m excited for the future of professional boxing in Ireland.”
The card will open with three exhibition bouts, including Chris Boreland of Coleraine, flamboyant Naas fighter Aobhian Byrne, Caoimhin Connolly and Cormac Dylan from Derry.
The show is also featuring Tianna Schroeder against Judit Hachbold in a female bout, Galway cruiserweight Jason Myers, Jim Donovan, Kian Hedderman, Danny Duffy, and the pro debut of highly-rated Enniskillen prospect Rhys Owens.
The co-main sees Eoghan Lavin continue his rise under the guidance of Frank Warren, 258 Management and David McGinley, while the headliner pits Callum Bradley in a super featherweight contest – the biggest opportunity yet for the Tyrone man.
Callum Bradley fully appreciates the milestone of his first main card headline:
“It feels great to be headlining in just my 8th fight – especially so close to home and in a venue that I would have gone to watch Paul McCloskey headline when I was younger. It’ll be a great feeling.
“I think it’ll be a massive buzz, especially in this part of Ireland; in the North. There’s not that many professional boxing shows that happen around here. Everyone will be getting behind this. It’s a great show with a lot of great talent so I’m looking forward to it.
“I think fight fans can expect another great night of boxing. If anyone was at my last fight in Belfast, they can expect excitement. They seen everyone was on their feet and cheering and I put on a great display of boxing so that’s what fans can expect from myself. For the event itself, Sheer Sports puts on a great event and set up – it’ll be another unreal event.”
David McGinley, a lawyer and boxing manager, echoed the importance of events like these in the development of fighters’ careers:
“From a manager’s perspective, shows like Rumble in The Hills are very important for developing fighters – not just development as a fighter but developing their brand and building a fanbase.
“That grassroots support is hugely beneficial for local fighters, as it affords opportunities to main event cards that they may not otherwise get on bigger cards in the UK.
“Callum Bradley and Eoghan Lavin are both ready in terms of their high placement on this card. They both have the talent and ability to hold their own in a main event slot.
“They also have the right personalities for it. Callum is a very mature person, who has been around boxing his whole life. Although this is only his 8th fight, he had a break in his career. He is now emotionally ready to headline an event.
“Similarly, Eoghan has the confidence and personality to step up to a bigger occasion. He’s shown that level of responsibility by the decision to move to the UK at a young age for the past 2 years; to train, live and start a home there. He’s someone who’s ready for a big occasion.
“In terms of the bigger picture for both of the lads’ careers – it’s hugely important for different reasons. From a boxing perspective, it’s Callum’s first time facing a southpaw and ticking that off the list. It’s an opportunity to bank rounds and continue to gain momentum leading into 2026.
“Eoghan is going to take on a tough opponent who’s beaten a lot in his weight class, so it’s a big step up and sets him up for that next level of competitor.”
Eoghan Lavin is treating this stage as a springboard to bigger ambitions, as he looks to the future: “I’m excited and looking forward to being the co-main event. It’s a step in the right direction. I’ll show what I’m about. It’s a step closer to me headlining on my own show in Mayo, hopefully.
“To be fighting back in Ireland is always good. I’ve taken the show for less money to be active and because it’s in Ireland. It’s not a massive expense for my supporters, my family and friends who live on the West Coast. There’s always a good buzz and build-up locally.
“Before the end of the year, I’ll be 8-0, stepping on and pushing on. Early next year, I want to be straight in for the Celtic titles and whatever other titles I can pick up. I also want the 2 Youth World titles and then push on to bigger and better things.”
Jason Quigley’s mission is to provide a platform for fighters like Lavin, Bradley, and Owens to rise without having to leave home soil. He’s hoping this event will be the spark for a new era in Irish boxing.
“We all know that Irish fans are fantastic and great anyway. But Donegal fans really get behind their own and they’re so supportive. After the last show I did, I kept getting asked ‘When’s the next one? It was a great night.’”
He adds, laughing: “I was a bit offended when people came up to me and said that the production and set-up that we have is a proper night of professional, elite boxing. I responded by saying ‘that’s what it’s meant to be!’”
“It also has to be said that something like this can’t be done without the help of my wife, my friends – everyone’s chipping in. You never start at the top; you always start climbing that ladder with everyone behind you. I’m so grateful for the support team and sponsors that I have.”
“We have the Donegal County Council on board which is massive, Rite Financial, O’Reilly’s, Ian Coughlan, R Kings Competitions, the Mangan group from New York, Conal Thomas Trees Service and McMenamin Builders. It can’t be done without them.”
“It’s going be an absolutely fantastic night of boxing; something special that will kick off a series of fights here in Donegal into next year.”
Tickets for the event are available from the promoter, fighters, venue and eventbrite.com
