Mayo boxer Ray Moylette climbs off the canvas to win in front of home crowd

There were scenes of wild celebration in Castlebar when Ray Moylette out-pointed Argentina's Requiem Arce in a thriller in front of a packed house in The TF Royal. The Islandeady man showed the heart of a lion to climb off the floor in the second round and he also survived a savage onslaught at the end of the fifth, before edging home on a narrow 76-75 scoreline.

The verdict was met with great delight in the impressive Castlebar venue which had throbbed all night as the crowd created a stunning and emotional atmosphere. The fight card put together by the promoters, Platform Sport, was excellent with some thrilling contests on view, but all eyes were on Moylette when he stepped into the ring near the end of the night.

He began well but it was soon obvious that Arce, a knock-out specialist, was an extremely dangerous opponent. That was clear to everyone in the room in the second round when a crunching short punch sent Moylette to the canvas. He picked himself up and got through to the bell where he gathered himself and settled back to his more cultured style in the following rounds.

Moylette's jab was his best weapon and all seemed right with the world until the dying moments of the fifth round when the Argentinian unleashed hell upon the home favourite. Moylette was on the edge of defeat but the bell sounded and he was saved. 

The Mayo man showed huge courage and resilience to come out for the sixth and then take the fight to the visitor as the crowd roared, chanted and sang. He fought behind the jab again and when the bell for the eighth and final round sounded, everyone knew he had to win the last three minutes if he was to be victorious. 

Once again, there was nothing between them, but Moylette edged it and when the final bell sounded it was a waiting game until the news the crowd was waiting for was delivered amid scenes of wild emotion.

Moylette was first to admit he was fortunate to have survived some of Arce's big punches, but in the end it was his better technical ability which won him the fight. It was a battle which will be remembered for years to come.