One Eoghan definitely bit the dust this week - and a west London boxer did the damage.

While the fluffy-haired variety warbles on in X-Factor, it was Stowe Club fighter John-Chris  from Paddington who did all the crowing in the ring.

McDonough put paid to Eoghan Wright in Donegal as part of a London Select team taking on the region, and while Simon Cowell is quick to condemn anybody mucking up on his stage, the judges stayed silent while 15-year-old McDonough knocked Wright all over the place.

"It would have been stopped long before the end in England," claimed Stowe coach Paul Armand.

But in a contest where Donegal still beat London 6-3, the other great victory was that of McDonough's younger brother, Shane.

The 13-year-old celebrated his birthday by also dishing out a hammering to Pat Gallagher.The Irishman's black eye and bloody nose was evident long before the end of their three-round bout and would have been another contest over long before the scheduled six minutes in most other places.

Armand added: "Anybody getting a decision here for London really deserved it."

* ALL STARS Boxing Club is set to play a major role in the fight against youth crime after 22 volunteers completed training to become recognised boxing tutors.

Fighters from the famous set-up in Harrow Road took on the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE)'s programme for tutors last month, and are now ready to work with the City of Westminster to steer potential bad lads (and girls) away from trouble and into the ring.

The plan is to develop skill, discipline and self-confidence through the sport and become an official 'delivery agent' for the council which has the bonus of tapping into council funds and securing its financial future after a recent rocky past.

* HE FOUGHT and beat a nobody on Saturday - but frustrated Ashley Theophane still believes he will be a somebody, someday, writes Max Rapkin.

The Paddington junior welterweight's ambitions were put on hold as he fought a little-known Nottingham boxer at York Hall, Bethnal Green, in what was billed as a 'keep-in-shape' fight.

Theophane showcased his superior ring-craft, accuracy and speed against the natural super-middleweight Matt Scriven - winning all six rounds with consummate ease.

But it was essentially a sparring session with Scriven the punch-bag, which made the occasion a giant come-down in anybody's language from the proposed fight with former world champion Zab Judah at Madison Square Garden that was cancelled last month.

"It was disappointing," said Theophane. "But this game is a long haul and you have to keep believing in your talent."

The 'game' has not been kind to Theophane, delivering repeated let-downs and false dawns.

He won a British title eliminator two years ago only to be snubbed by then champion Barry Morrison. "It's very frustrating, but it happens. I can't force a man to fight me," he said.

"But I believe it happens for a reason. "I didn't get that fight, but I went on to beat former world champion DeMarcus Corley.

"Instead of going through the British title route, I'm looking for a world title shot and in 2010 I believe that will happen."