Bernard Dunne

Bernard Dunne (born 6 February 1980) is an Irish former professional boxer and a former WBA (Regular), and European Super Bantamweight champion.

On Saturday 21 March 2009, Dunne defeated Ricardo Cordoba in the 11th round to become the WBA (Regular) super bantamweight champion in a fight that won ESPN's 2009 Fight of The Year with 6 knockdowns occurring in the fight between the two fighters (4 for Dunne and 2 for Cordoba). Dunne lost his title on 26 September 2009 in the 02 Dublin. Dunne retired on 19 February 2010.

In November 2009, Irish publishers Liberties Press released the first biography of Dunne. Entitled Bernard Dunne: The Ecstasy and the Agony, it is an up-to-date account of Dunne's beginnings until his defeat to Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym. In 2012, Dunne was an analyst on the 2012 Olympics boxing coverage on RTÉ Sport.

Amateur career

Dunne was born in Neilstown, Clondalkin, County Dublin. He boxed at amateur level for Ireland where he had a record of 119–11, captured 13 Irish titles but did not qualify for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

Professional career

Dunne began his professional boxing career in December 2001 in the United States, winning his first fight in Feather Falls Casino in Oroville, California. In LA, Bernard trained under the world-renowned boxing coach Freddie Roach in the Wild Card Boxing Gym, training with many champions including Manny Pacquiao. Dunne won his first fourteen bouts in the United States before returning to Dublin under manager Brian Peters. Peters negotiated a deal with Irish public broadcaster RTÉ whereby Dunne's fights in Dublin would be shown live on national television. It was the first such deal for an Irish boxer. On 10 April 2009 Dunne was crowned boxer of the month for March by the World Boxing Association.

In May 2009, Dunne was offered £200,000 by promoter Frank Maloney to defend his world title against Commonwealth Super-Bantamweight holder Rendall Munroe, but Dunne said no. On 20 August 2009, it was confirmed that Dunne would make the first defence of his World title at The O2 Arena, Dublin on 26 September 2009 against the number one rated contender Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym. Dunne subsequently lost his belt to Poonsawat by way of the WBA three knockdown rule in the third round of the fight.

In late January 2010 Dunne was named Boxer of the Year at the Irish National Boxing Awards. Three weeks later on 19 February he announced his retirement from the sport.

International Championship Belts

Gaelic games involvement Dunne worked with Davy Fitzgerald when Fitzgerald managed the Waterford county hurling team. Dunne was involved the Galway county hurling team's search for a new manager in 2021. When Fitzgerald's name was mentioned as a possibility, Dunne withdrew from the interview panel Galway had appointed to decide (the job was ultimately given to Henry Shefflin).

Dunne worked with Jim Gavin as the senior Dublin county football team's performance and lifestyle coach from 2013 onwards, having previously worked alongside Gavin with the county under-21 team. He left during the 2017 season.

Dunne joined the Galway county football team in 2022.