By John Haughey

Eamon Magee will be looking to stage an improbable comeback

Irish boxing fans will hope for better fortunes in 2005 after a mixed year for the country's top boxers.

Eamon Magee hopes to begin a remarkable comeback to the ring in February when he defends his WBU welterweight title.

He had said his career was over after suffering an horrific gang beating in his native Belfast in late February.

But, despite a badly-broken leg, Magee was able to resume training in August and is planning his ring return, which will be very welcome.

Brian Magee faces the most important year of his career as he attempts to re-establish his credentials in the super middleweight division.

BIG FIGHTS TO HOPE FOR: McBride v Tyson E Magee v Hatton B Magee v Beyer D Kelly v Asloum W McCullough v Injin Chi

Magee lost the WBO title in June when he was floored four times by Robin Reid in a points defeat by the veteran.

The Belfast man returned to the ring with a seven-round win over journeyman Neil Linford in November, but it offered few pointers for the future.

Magee's suspect chin will be a cause of worry for his handlers in 2005.

Wayne McCullough made another comeback in 2004 and, with a top-10 featherweight ranking from the WBC, continues to hope for another world title chance.

Damaen Kelly also returned after a chastening world title defeat in 2003 to claim the IBO super flyweight title with a gritty points victory over Jason Booth in December.

Kelly's manager Tommy Gilmour is now hoping to line up an IBF title eliminator against Frenchman Brahim Asloum in 2005.

The talented Neil Sinclair made a winning return to the ring, although his career appears to lack direction.

Talk of a possible fight between Kevin McBride and the fading Mike Tyson just would not go away in 2004.

McBride was earmarked as a possible opponent for Tyson last summer, only for Danny Williams to memorably get the opportunity - which he grabbed with some aplomb.

Despite Tyson's fourth-round knockout by the Englishman, the American's well-publicised financial problems mean he is likely to continue pulling on the gloves.

So the prospect of seeing Tyson in Dublin is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Unbeaten Dublin featherweight Bernard Dunne's progress under the watchful eye of his mentor Sugar Ray Leonard will be keenly watched in 2005.

His win over durable Mexican Adrian Valdez was his 14th straight victory and signalled that he is ready to move up in class over the coming year.

California-based Dunne is trained by the highly-respected Freddie Roach.