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“I owe it to her to fight” – Emotional Keane McMahon to honour recently departed Nanny


Keane McMahon [4(1)-0] believes he owes it to his late Nanny to fight on ‘Celtic Clash 7’ this coming Saturday night.

The Dublin welterweight prospect considering pulling out of his scheduled six round clash on the exciting and eagerly anticipated card after his beloved grandmother passed earlier this month.

‘The Iceman’ admits it was difficult to train and find motivation while his “everything” was ill but believes she would have wanted him to extend his unbeaten record on the Boxing Ireland card this weekend and is keen to honour her memory by competing.

“I considered turning the fight down,” McMahon told Irish-Boxing.com ahead of his fight with a to-be-announced opponent at the Good Counsel GAA Club in Drimnagh.

“It was very difficult to get the motivation to train seeing my nanny the way she was and it certainly affected my mindset for a bit. But she constantly asked about the fight up until she fell really ill so I think I owe it to her to fight.”

“My nanny was my everything and since I was a kid when my granda got me involved in boxing she supported me.”

“She never actually would come to see me boxing, her nerves would be gone, but all through my amateur and international fights she supported 100 percent no matter what. She knew a thing or two about the sport as well!”

McMahon was due to challenge for a first title on a card with two intriguing all Irish-clashes, but is now down for a non strap six rounder.

The BUI first ratified a clash with reigning Celtic champion Jay Byrne, but it was then suggested the title holder would vacate, allow McMahon to fight for it provided he got the winner in a 2019 Irish title fight.

However, the title won’t be on the line this weekend, McMahon doesn’t know why, but considering all that has happened in the last couple of months he doesn’t care. The 24-year-old just wants to add W to his slate before targeting a trinket heavy 2019.

“I think it was difficult to get an international opponent willing to fight for the strap. I don’t particularly know what happened but I know Len [Gunning] and Steve [Sharpe] were working hard behind the scenes to secure an opponent.”

“This is the fight game though and, to be honest, I don’t really care. I want to get this fight out of the way and go into the new year fully focused on big fights, preferably title fights,” he continued before hinting that a second successive stoppage victory may be on the card this weekend.

“I never really make predictions but I always deliver solid performances and nothing will be different here. I’ll get the stoppage I feel though,” added the Smithfield slickster who stopped Jade Karam with beautiful bodywork last time out.

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

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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