McComb: I don’t care about medals, I need money to live

Sean McComb had his first fight in the light welterweight division at the weekend.

The European Game lightweight bronze medalist took on honourary Russian Wayne Kelly in a test international at the National Stadium on Friday night, and performed well.

McComb has moved up to 64kg for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – however he revealed that he could turn professional long before that.

After his bout the Holy Trinity southpaw spoke to Irish-Boxing.com and told how the move four kilos north “felt great.”

“I’ve been sparring loads at 64kg anyway over the past three of four months in a lot of camps, starting off with Lithuania in March back here in the Stadium, then up in Abbotstown with India, Kazakhstan,and GB.”

“But that was basically my first fight at 64kg and it felt great.”

Six-footer McComb was one of the tallest lightweights in the World, and this size advantage will be diminished at light welter. McComb noted how “I’m still tall at 64kg, but I will have to change some things.”

“You could see there tonight I was able to fight a lot more, I’ve started to take that on.”

“I’ve found myself doing all that more comfortably, and I’m better at it, but I can still stay long/”

“The feet is the main aspect of my game, whether they’re taller than me or not, I can still get in and out fast, and punch without getting hit.”

“That’s the main thing, and will have to start working on my speed more at 64kg.”

The move up has given the Belfast star something of a new lease of life in the ring, and McComb revealed that “I feel more comfortable and I feel like I’m enjoying boxing again.”

“Obviously I was a bit down not getting the call for the Olympic qualifiers [at light welterweight] but I’m still enjoying my boxing again.”

However, the shift in weight was a tactical one, not one of necessity, and McComb explained that “it wasn’t tough [making weight], just, after Davey [Oliver Joyce] qualified at 60kg, I though ‘what’s the point waiting around at 60kg for the next four years?’ so I may as well just start building into 64kg now for Tokyo.”

“When Tokyo comes around then I’ll be a filled-out light welterweight.”

While he has one eye on the 2020 Games, McComb is aware that “four years is a long time, I’ll be turning 28 by the time Tokyo comes around.”

“I don’t know if I want to wait around that long.”

A move into the professional game certainly appeals, however he continued by saying that “I don’t know if anybody’s going to approach me about going pro”

“But it’s always there in the back of my mind, I would love to go pro.”

“I just want all my options to be open between professional and amateur.”

McComb is currently faced by the problem which is plagued by many of our amateur boxers, money. Turning 24 next month, and with funding unsure, the lure of the pro game and money to help build a life is tempting.

The West Belfast man explained how “I don’t care about medals to be honest with you, wherever there’s money, I need money for living.”

“If I’m not on funding down here you can’t expect me to stay around for another four years with no funding.”

“I’d be more into turning professional and negotiating money now.”

“If the deal’s right for a professional contract I’ll take it.”

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