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“I’m just going through the motions” – Roy Sheahan calls for support to fulfill boxing dream


Roy Sheahan [5(2)-0] returned to the ring on Friday night but the Athy fighter’s future remains uncertain.

Ireland’s Last Man Standing boxed for the first time since winning the competition back in March, claiming a win over journeyman Marian Cazacu.

Sheahan stopped the Romanian in the third round on the Ray Moylette Homecoming card at the Royal Theatre in Castlebar but the win may not be the starting point for a title charge that many had hoped for.

The 34-year-old admits that he would need big financial support for him to be able to commit to boxing fully and enable him to train full-time under coach Steven O’Rourke in St Michael’s Gym in Inchicore.

Indeed, Sheahan only fought on the bill on short notice having being personally requested for by headliner Moylette and having had his Last Man Standing payment fiasco finally sorted.

‘The Joker’ told Irish-Boxing.com that “I only trained for three or four days, I’m only back from a holiday in Cancun, Mexico.”

“I’m very good friends with Ray, I used to come here to drink with him and he’d come to Athy. Martin [Brennan, Moylette’s club coach] as well, the two of them are good mates. I couldn’t let them down.”

“It was a good chance to get on the show and show everyone that I’m still boxing as well. I know I’m not training as I’m working full time but I still love a scrap, everyone loves a fight.”

As such, Friday’s fight could be a one-off rather than a comeback if Sheahan does not receive relatively major backing.

“I don’t know,” he said when fielding the ‘what’s next?’ question.

“Financially it’s hard for me. I live in Athy and it’s hard for me to get sponsors and it’s hard for me, week to week, to get up to Steven.”

“With my job, I get good money and I love the job – but I want to box, it’s just getting the financial part sorted.”

“It’s hard for pro boxers to train each week because they’re spending their own money, and by the time you get a small purse you owe a lot of it out. It’s very hard, you need sponsors.”

“If I could get something week to week, where I can take the work off, I’d be happy because you need training camps.”

“Financially, if I could get help, in some way, I’d have no problem [continuing].”

Assassin Promotions, who ran Friday night’s TG4-broadcast show, are extremely keen to sign Sheahan but no deal has been reached.

The Kildare puncher knows he is an exceptional talent and believes he can quickly achieve big things at middleweight or light middle given the right support.

Sheahan outlined how “I don’t mind, I’d fight anyone. I’m open to offers.”

“If I had [backing] I’d be training full-time and I would be Irish champion, probably European champion, I’m up at that level.

“I believe if I train like I did for Last Man Standing – I was fit as a fiddle after seven weeks training. I was training twice most days and, even on my rest days, I was out there going for a sneaky jog.”

“I fell in love with it again but now I’m just going through the motions. Tonight I just wanted to get in there and get out.”

“I love boxing but I’m 34, I haven’t got long left, a year, two years.”

Kildare boxing is proudly supported by Liffey Crane Hire

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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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