AmateurHeadline News

Martin Keenan – “It feels good to be number one!”

There’s a new big man in town.

Ennis super heavyweight Martin Keenan took the Senior Elite title on Friday night and the position of Ireland’s top +91kg boxer.

The Rathkeale fighter overcame Dublin’s Thomas Carty via 4-1 split decision, outworking the Glasnevin counter-puncher in the first two rounds before withstanding a late charge that saw him stunned.

Keenan spoke to Irish-Boxing.com after the win, and described how “it feels good to be number one!”

martin keenan winDetailing the fight, Keenan outlined how “he was a good opponent, but I just had too much in me.”

“Our game plan worked and we just cut him off from his shots, he has good shots. We got him out of his own comfort zone, he had to try and come for it, but the lad just wasn’t able to in the end because I had too much.”

It was an emotional win for the family man, and he would immediately give his newly-won all-Ireland medal to his ill uncle. He said “thanks be to God, and for all the training from my club, the support from my family, my cousins – my uncle Davey McDonagh, a sick man, came up to support me, I love him.”

Now Keenan is in line to represent Ireland at the European Championships in Ukraine this Summer. Indeed he will make his debut in an international vest this coming weekend against England in Woking.

“This is only the start,” he exclaimed. “Now I’m going to go out and represent Ireland and hopefully do my best out there while I’m at it. I have never boxed for Ireland, this will be my first time to be sent out in the Irish colours, it’s unbelievable, a dream come true.”

“Everybody can dream, and if you work hard enough and train hard enough, it may come true.”

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

x