Forgotten heavy Sheehan will return to the ring when heavyweights ‘grow balls’

Con Sheehan [6(1)-0] claims he is fit enough to fight and has called on big-named big men to man up and face him.

The Tipperary favourite made an impressive start to life as a pro with six wins between January 2016 and June 2017.

The 29-year-old, who started out with Virgil Hunter before moving to Peter Fury, had progressed to eight rounders in that timeframe and looked to be building serious momentum.

Injury then slowed the progress, but speaking to Irish-Boxing.com the former Irish amateur standout suggested there is more to his absence than just a sore hand and shoulder.

Sheehan claims he no longer wants to fight journeymen, stressing he is ready for bigger and more meaningful fights but says he has been somewhat left stuck in the wilderness because high-profile fighters are aware of his talent and are, as a result, avoiding him.

“My hand and shoulder are injured but, nothing, it’s not too serious now.  I have been out but it hasn’t been too frustrating at all because I didn’t want to fight the guys put in front of me. The fighters I did want to fight didn’t want me so that leaves me stuck in the middle,” Sheehan told Irish-Boxing.com.

After time out of the ring most, including former world champion Tyson Fury, return with a warm-up bout. However, Sheehan is so keen to kick on that when asked when we are likely to see him back in the ring he responded “when a few lads grow a pair of balls rather than a big mouth and take their slaps.”

The heavyweight scene is blossoming at present. Future opponents for the likes of Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are being built lower down the ladder and there seem to be opportunities aplenty for big men but Sheehan, who will return to Peter Fury’s gym when he gets a fight date, claims some of his fellow prospects are afraid to fight him.

“We tried to get some big name fights and fights with people way ahead of me on paper, but after sparring sessions and word of mouth they never came off, disappointing.”

Two heavyweights that have moved themselves toward big fights are Sheehan’s fellow Irish big men Niall Kennedy and Sean Turner, both of whom Sheehan would have gotten the better of in the amateurs.

‘Boom Boom’ has progressed well Stateside under the guidance of Murphys Boxing over the last 12 months picking up the USA Massachusetts and USA New England titles and defeating the likes of Jesse Barboza and Alexis Santos along the way. ‘Big Sexy’ registered an impressive victory over Arnold Gjergjaj before winning fans despite defeat to Filip Hrgovic in a late notice fight. The Dubliner also has the chance to kick start his career having secured a TV fight against British prospect Nathan Gorman on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s June 9th comeback.

Sheehan doesn’t begrudge them their progress but is adamant, that to claim they are the best heavy in Ireland they have to defeat him in the ring.

“[They are doing] very well, surprisingly well, actually, fair play to both of them. They are going different ways and making a few bob, but they still need best me to even be considered the best heavyweight in Ireland – that’s just a fact.”