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Paddy Adamus feels U22 loss pushed him to historic Elite win – open to Kurt Walker box-off


Paddy Adamus did it at the first time of asking = but just has to look at how long his club, one of the most famous in Dublin, had to wait for the National Elite Champion to be made aware of just how big of an achievement he pulled off on Saturday night.

That said, however, the fighter himself wants to progress and move onto the international scene – and isn’t ruling out a box-off with Kurt Walker following a brilliant night for himself and Drimnagh BC

Amateur legends Michael Carruth and Paul Griffin won their fair share for the club but Adamus was just their second winner since the early 90s and the first for the club, which within walking distance of the Stadium, since Sean ‘Big Sexy’ Turner lifted the cup over his head in 2014.

It was clear in the moments after Adamus was announced as the 2019 featherweight champion it meant a lot to his coaching staff and the those involved with the Dublin club – and that wasn’t lost on the fighter.

“It’s been a while anyway. We have junior boxers mostly now, we are growing into the seniors again. It’s the first one in ages you can see everyone is over the moon,” he told Irish-Boxing.com after the bout.

While it was a big achievement for Drimnagh and a success they can build on it was a massive achievement for the fighter himself and also a sign of his maturity and ability to learn.

“I can’t even describe the feeling. It’s going to hit me tomorrow when I wake up. I will be like ‘what? I’ve done it,” he said before claiming defeat to David Oliver Joyce in the U22 lightweight final last month played a massive part him defeating Christian Cekiso of Portlaoise to become the first Irish featherweight champion since Tyrone McCullagh.

Adamus described how “this is the big one, the main target, I am delighted.  We knew all the championships this year would build up to this one, even prepare me for the big one.”

“I took a defeat in the Under 22 finals and I really learnt from that and brought it into this big one,” he adds before outlining the specifically what he learnt from the underage reverse.

“Composure, not to rush in, don’t take silly punches, and timing.”

With EU and Commonwealth medallist Kurt Walker not entering this year’s competition, there is scope for debate over who the High Performance will pick to represent Ireland in the European Games this summer.

Walker has proved himself on the International stage, winning EU gold in November – and suffering a broken thumb here which ruled him out of the Seniors – but Adamus is now the champion of Ireland.

The Drimnagh fighter points out he would like the chance to prove he is indeed the best at the weight moving forward and whilst the well mannered puncher didn’t go as far as to call for a box-off, he certainly didn’t rule it out.

“I think every boxer’s dream is to go to the Olympics so I’d like that. I hope I get one. I hope people believe I deserve it. Kurt Walker is European Union Champion at this weight, but I’d be up for a box-off. I’d take my chances, why not?” he adds before claiming he would be confident his best display could see off the talented Lisburn operator.

“I’d see how I fair on the day. I always believe if I produce my best I can beat the best. I train and work hard so why not.”

Reflecting on the final itself, which was decided by a razor-tight 3-2 split decision, Adamus points out he grew into the fight and felt comfortable by the third round.

He recalled how “the first round I felt was punch for punch. I started off slow in the first minute and a half, but when I knew the round was coming to a close I need to do something to make sure of the round.”

“By the end of the second round I felt I had him figured out and by the third round I thought I was taking over.”

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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