Eddie Hyland (11-1) came, saw and conquered on his New York debut at Roseland Ballroom last Wednesday night when he won a unanimous decision against Gustavo Dailey (2-4).

The 27-year-old Dubliner entered the ring to the sounds of "Stuck in the Middle with You" by Stealers Wheel, wearing an Irish rugby jersey and white shorts with yellow and green trim. Flanked by father Pajo and U.S. trainer Tracy Patterson, Hyland, who weighed in at 132 pounds, wore his Irish title belt on his shoulder.

Tough Philly pro Dailey was ready to go in the other corner, and the physically bigger 32-year-old had Hyland working hard in the first round.

Hyland took the round easily, pummeling Dailey's body with left hooks but not without taking a few shots himself.

In the second, an accidental clash of heads caused a small cut under Hyland's left eye and put him off his game, with Dailey having his best stanza of the fight and probably shading the round.

In the third, Hyland came out boxing, and in doing so beat his opponent to the punch every time, getting off some good combinations and scoring at will. This theme continued for the rest of the fight, with Hyland's quicker hand speed apparent.

The Tallaght man landed more shots and scored consistently, but he was kept honest by Dailey's powerful forays and sheer physical strength. After the final bell the judges scored the fight 60-54, 59-55, 59-55 in the Irishman's favor.

"I am more of a slug fighter but tonight you saw more of a boxer coming out of me. They are trying to get me to box more than to slug, but it was a great fight for me first fight over here," Hyland told the Irish Voice after the bout.

"He was a strong guy and he kept coming. Hopefully you will see more of me over here around Patrick's Day and when me and me two brothers will be fighting."

Father Pajo was delighted with his son's performance.

"Dailey was tough, very fit, in great condition and he took it really seriously. The nerves got Eddie a bit worrying about his first fight in New York," he said.

"The more Eddie boxed and loaded up on the shots the more yer man walked into shots," continued Hyland senior, who added that Eddie's wife had just given birth to a baby son, Matthew, a few weeks ago and that preparation hadn't been ideal but that he had pulled through.

Getting Eddie out to U.S. trainer Tracy Patterson for 10 days was key to settling the 27-year-old and honing his focus completely on the fight.

Patterson, a former world champion, gave his charge a positive review.

"Eddie has come along well though he was a little tight early on, but as the fight went on he got looser and he performed better. I expect him to get better with each fight," he said.

Eddie Hyland is slated to fight again on January 30 in Dublin, and then accompany his brothers Patrick and Paul in fighting in the U.S. around St. Patrick's Day.

Speaking of super bantamweight Paul (12-1), he is now scheduled to fight Eugene Heagney on December 18.