Battle at the Bay Committee members Mark Porter (L) and Sean Campbell (R) with UFC Fighter, Conor McGregor, and Irish pro-boxer, Jason Quigley ( middle) at recent launch of their annual fundraiser.

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

Novice fighters from the Boston boxing Fundraiser 'Battle at the Bay' pose with UFC fighter Conor McGregor and Irish pro-boxer, Jason Quigley.

Ken Casey from Drop Kick Murphys spoke to the large crowd at the launch of the annual fundraiser in Boston, 'Battle at the Bay'

Irish pro-boxer, Jason Quigley, with Ajay and Quinn

Dee Devlin, Orla Spillane, Clodagh Fox are all smiles at the launch of 'Battle at the Bay'

UFC star Conor Mc Gregor with Boston based MMA fighter, Tom Egan

Some of the crowd who came down to meet with UFC fighter, Conor Mc Gregor

Mark Porter, co-founder of Let's Stop Cancer, presents the two Irish sports stars, UFC fighter Conor McGregor and Irish pro-boxer, Jason Quigley with a present.