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Gold-Digger Donnelly hoping for podium finish in Rio

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Steven Donnelly knows he will be competing in one of the toughest weight division in Rio, but the Ballymena man is calm and confident ahead of next month’s sporting extravaganza.

The All Saints welterweight is something of a dark horse in the 69kg division, and will be looking to spring a few surprises in Brazil.

The 27 year old explained his confidence to IABA TV, noting how “if you don’t believe in yourself going over there, there’s no point in going.”

“I know it’s going to be hard but I do firmly believe in myself as does the rest of the team.”

“We’re all going over there with gold on our mind.”

“We’re all gold-digging on this team.”

The Ulsterman has taken the road less travelled to Rio and is well accustomed to life in the boxing wilderness, however he feels that he is in the right frame of mind for the 31st Olympiad, describing how “my heads clear, everything’s going well, life’s good.”

“It’s just another boxing fight, it’s the biggest sporting event in the World, but it’s just another fight, you have to be calm and take it all in your stride.”

While he is confident, Donnelly is realistic, and admits that “obviously you can’t just say you’re going to win the gold medal, but that’s what we aspire to do, that’s what we trained for and we prepared for.”

“I’d be very very happy with a medal in the welterweight division, it’s one of the hardest divisions if not the hardest division.”

“I’ve prepared, and me at my best can stick it up to these guys.”

Watch Steven Donnelly’s interview with IABA TV in full below:

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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