Last Friday, a large crowd packed into Peter Welch’s boxing gym in South Boston to meet UFC fighter Conor McGregor.

McGregor who is in Boston on the lead up to his TD Garden fight on January 18 was joined by Irish pro-boxer Jason Quigley.

The event was hosted by local charity boxing show ‘Battle at the Bay’ and was a chance for the fundraiser’s novice fighters to meet with two of Ireland’s biggest sporting exports to America.

Both of these talented fighters are considered rising stars in their respective sport and they were joined by other members of the fighting community like Boston based Michael Owen McLaughlin, and Irish MMA fighter, Tom Egan.

Ken Casey, from Drop Kick Murphys also dropped by to speak with the primarily Irish crowd and was joined in the ring by members of the "Battle at the Bay' committee, Mark Porter and Eamonn Doherty. MC for the event was Kevin Doherty.

The committee members of  ‘Battle at the Bay’ used the opportunity to appeal to any members of the community wishing to fight or sponsor the event to get in touch.

All fighters receive free intensive boxing training which started on January 5 at the highly respected TNT Boxing Gym in Braintree and takes place every Tuesday and Thursday evening until fight night on March 28.

For more information about competing or sponsorship opportunities contact:

Mark Porter - 617-719-6729;Sean Campell-617 905 9086;Kevin Doherty - 617-435-5145; Eamon Kelly - 617-719-8799; Paddy McDevitt - 617-839-4900; Peter O'Malley - 617-833-8474; Mark Vaz -508-245-0500

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Photos by Dawn Hazelton