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Roe reassures no ring rust return


Bernard Roe [5(1)-0] is confident that Saturday night’s stoppage win will be his last ring-rust ridding ride.

The Sheriff Street favourite might bang in the ring and certainly isn’t a banger of the vehicle kind, but he has over his career accumulated as much rust as the oldest bike in his stablemate Craig O’Brien’s family’s famed cycle shop.

Roe is one viewed with the talent, attitude and acumen to kick on to the next level, but through no real fault of his own has had to wait longer than most to get to 5-0.

The one to watch light middle has had big breaks between fights and can’t get the run of bouts needed to progress.

The Celtic Warriors man returned after a 14 month lay off on Saturday and stopped Radoslav Mitev with relative ease and, speaking after the clash, he told Irish-Boxing.com that he is sure he won’t have a prolonged break before he returns.

Roe admits he did become frustrated by inactivity, but the 26 year old is keen to look forward rather than back.

“I have been frustrated, but I can’t look back. I stopped thinking about it to be honest. The fights are coming and I just have to keep looking forward.”

I feel great. I feels good to get the rust off, but once I got going I felt comfortable and I could step it up a bit.”

“I have two good hands now for the first time in about five years, so it’s all positive.”

“I hope to be out before Christmas. After Christmas, America is an option. It’s looking like I might get fights over there then. Hopefully I will get to fight between the two, but I am looking forward to getting busy and kicking on.”

Saturday was Roe’s first stoppage victory, which is surprising considering the fact he is noted as a relatively powerful fighter.

However, his Celtic Clash 3 fight was the first time he took to the ring without any real hand issues and it eventually showed.

“This is the first time I was on the pads warming up not holding back thinking about my hands. In there I was conscious of it because he was smaller and I didn’t want to hit him on the top of the head or catch him on the elbow with the body shots.”

“As the fight went on I stopped playing with my power and the let the shots go and he didn’t want to know then.

“t wasn’t an easy fight, but I made it easier.”

“I knew he was about to go. I could feel it in him and once I upped the pace he wasn’t going to last regardless. ”

Photo Credit: Laszlo Geczo Photography

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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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