The incredible boxing journey for undefeated featherweight prospect Patrick "The Punisher" Hyland (27-0, 12 KOs)continues after his recent victory by eight-round unanimous decision (79-70, 79-71, 79-71) overdangerous Dominican Carlos "El Flaco" Fulgencio (19-8-1, 12 KOs)at Sahlen Stadium in Rochester, New York.
"I enjoyed the fight and was sharp," Dublin-native Hyland said about his fight with Fulgencio. "I dropped him at the end of the first and caught him again in the second. I didn't want to punch myself out, so I eased up and boxed the rest of the fight. My previous fight only lasted four rounds and I needed the rounds. He came to beat me and kept coming forward. We went toe-to-toe and he caught me with a few shots. He tested my chin. I'll be back in the gym later this week and want to be fighting again by the beginning of November, hopefully, in a 10 or 12 round fight."
Hyland has been following his dream to become world champion that developed when he was an amateur in Dublin. He and his brothers, middleweight Edward 16-2, 6 KOs) and super bantamweight Paul (21-2, 6 KOs), moved to Essex, England at the beginning of Patrick's pro career. The Hylands didn't get the opportunities there that they expected and 1 ½ years later they were released from their promotional contracts. With their father Patrick, Sr. as head trainer, like he was in the amateurs, the fighting Hyland brothers crossed the Atlantic Ocean to fight a few times in the United States. They went back and forth between Ireland and America until they hooked up with Final Round Promotions/Team Snooki Boxing, which includes television reality star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, for a fight this past January in Atlantic City.
Patrick made a decision to move alone to the U.S., not to cities like New York City or Boston like some of his Irish prizefighting predecessors, but to Marlboro, New York in Hudson Valley. Hyland has been working with two-time world champion Tracy Harris Patterson, son of former world heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson, and Patrick's father works his corner as an assistant coach.
"We tested the US market and I enjoyed it here with higher-caliber fighters," Hyland explained. "I jumped at the offer to come here to fight. Now, I'm used to living in America. I had to get use to driving on the opposite side of the road. I never saw woodchucks or coyotes before, but I've accustomed to living here, and I'm enjoying myself."
The 28-year-old Hyland is the World Boxing Federation ("WBF") featherweight champion. He is rated No. 4 by the North American Boxing Organization ("NABO") and United States Boxing Association (USBA), as well as No. 5 by the North American Boxing Federation (NABF).
With 27 consecutive victories to start his professional career, Hyland already holds that record for a Republic of Ireland fighter (the All-Ireland record of 30 is held by little known Northern Ireland fighter Billy Adamson, 1950-52).
Few active boxers have longer winning streaks (not unbeaten with draws) to start their professional careers than Hyland, including 43-0, Floyd Mayweather, Jr.; 36-0,David Rodriguez; 33-0, Mike Alvarado; 32-0, Vanes Martirosyan, Roman Gonzalez; 31, Denis Boytsov; 30, Ajose Olusegun; 29, Timothy Bradley; 28,Kell Brock, Mickey Garcia.
"Patrick has proven his dedication to winning a world championship by moving without his family halfway around the world," Final Round Promotions/Team Snooki Boxing Vice President Mike Pascale added. "That took a lot of guts. We're committed to doing everything in our power to help position him to reach his dream"
Hyland is proud of Team Ireland's recent performance at the Olympic Games, as he prepares for a regional title fight and, if everything goes according to plan, a world title shot in 2014.
"They were fantastic," Hyland spoke about the Irish Olympic boxers. "I'm so proud of them. Our superstar, Katie Taylor, I know and she's the best in the world.
"I want to keep fighting often because that's where you learn. I listen to my team and fight anybody they put in the ring with me. If I had a choice, I'd like to fight (IBF featherweight champion) Billy Dib (35-1, 21 KOs). He beat me in Australia when we were amateurs, so there's a history between us. He's world champion and I'd like a crack at him."