The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
CLARE boxer David Ryan is set to make his professional debut on November 19 in Belfast, in a fight that will be shown on TG4.
Speaking this week he said he was delighted that the fight has been made.
“I was actually meant to fight the week before in Glasgow, but I got offered this one. My manager decided to go for this instead, it’s better exposure and it’ll build my profile a bit more.”
As of yet his opponent hasn’t been finalised with David telling the Champion that a few contracts had been sent out with the expectation that someone will sign this week.
Does that make it harder to prepare? “Ah, you just go in and do your thing, don’t care what they do. That’s all you can do.”
The bill on which he fights will be headlined by two Celtic title fights, featuring Belfast fighters.
David says that training has been very intense, and the fact a date has been set has increased his motivation.
“It’s been unreal. Since I’ve got the date it has been so much easier to go in and train and to push yourself that bit harder. Everything is crazy hard, but it’s good, it’s enjoyable, when you have something coming up you can enjoy training.”
It will continue to be very intense until quite close to the fight.
“Training will be harder until the week before, then I’ll pull back a small bit. There’s a small bit of a weight cut and then I’ll be good to go.”
He says he is in good shape at the moment, and says that the four kilo weight cut that he is expecting is not particularly difficult.
“It’s not that much, some people would be doing 20 or 30 pounds the week of a fight.”
David also works as a butcher at Morrissey’s in Shannon Town Centre and between training and work he is very busy.
“You wouldn’t believe it. Some mornings I’d be up and out of the house for a run at 5am. I’d be home at 10pm most nights and gone at 5 the next morning. It’s constant.”
2022 is certainly a year he will remember, with some important personal milestones, not just confined to boxing.
“I’ve had a busy year, I’ve bought a house, got engaged, turned professional, so it’s been madness.”
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
