Boxing: A number of Irish prospects go into action this weekend on both sides of the Atlantic with Brian Magee topping the Saturday night bill at the Ulster Hall in Belfast for his defence of the IBO super-middleweight title.

Magee, who was scheduled to fight Syd Vanderpool, now faces an Argentine, Omar Eduardo Gonzalez. Vanderpool withdrew to try to secure a more lucrative bout, against Joe Calzaghe.

Bernard Dunne, making a comeback following a summer break, has to face a new opponent for his ninth professional fight. Dunne, who is trained by the legendary Freddie Roach, will face 34-year-old Julio Ceasar Oyuela following the withdrawal of Orlando Soto.

Dunne is expected to make short work of the stand-in, as he has done for all of his previous eight bouts. Such has been Dunne's dominance there has been a clamour for him to take part in eight and 10-round bouts, something Roach and Irish manager Brian Peters are resisting. The fight takes place on Friday night in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Magee, although confident of retaining his belt, has been warned by trainer Harry Hawkins that Gonzalez can be an abrasive opponent who has been deducted points in the past for the use of the head.

According to Hawkins, who has watched videos of the Argentine in action, Gonzalez is a strong fighter who likes to mix it inside and can be rough and rugged in his approach. Magee has been instructed to keep out of the "butting zone". The fight has been sold out with an expected 1,600 people expected to turn up.

Also in action on Saturday is Galway's former Olympic boxer, Francis Barrett. Barrett hopes to move on from the disappointment of been stopped in the first round by Silence Saheed before the summer. Barret will hope cuts will not be an issue when he steps out in London's Alexandria Palace for his 15th bout. He is currently 12 for 2.