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‘Please sir, can I have some more?’ – Gaynor hungry for more work after ending unfortunate sabbatical

Liam Gaynor [3-0] got a taste for ring action for the first time in almost two years over the weekend and is already hungry for more.

The Tallaght fighter ended his sabbatical with a points win over Brett Fidoe at the AJ Bell Stadium in Eccles and claims it was a brilliant appetizer ahead of what he hopes will be a 2019 personal boxing feast. 

The 21-year-old, who debuted as a teen against respected and ever game journeyman Alec Bazza, was happy with how he performed considering the lay-off and admits to being surprised how good it felt to trade leather in front of a paying audience again.

The now Bolton-based operator points out he missed that ‘overwhelming feeling’ of fan support and securing victory in a pro ring.

Now after quenching his boxing thirst he is thirsty for more.

“It felt really good to get back in there and box the way I did it did really make me hungry for more fights and to become a better boxer. Being out for so long made me forget how it felt to be in there. I definitely did miss that overwhelming feeling of fans shouting and chanting your name and going out there to do what you enjoy,” he explained to Irish-boxing.com.

Gaynor proved one of the more unlucky Irish fighters in recent years. The Kilnamanagh native saw fights fall through at a regular rate through no fight of his own.

Possibly disillusioned with the Dublin scene he relocated to Bolton where he teamed up Alex Matvienko at the Elite Boxing Gym in Bolton and Steve Wood’s VIP Promotions – and is confident his new team and indeed new surroundings will make for a busier fighter. 

“Making the move over to Bolton was a great for me because I know I’ll be kept busy. Manchester is like a boxing capital with shows on every month. I’m waiting for a date to be announced for me in September time and maybe two more by the end of the year,” he adds.

The unfortunate ring sabbatical gave the lightweight prospect an education in how cruel boxing can be and as a result he has given him a new appreciation toward securing regular action. 
  
“I’ll definitely appreciate being kept busy knowing how hard it is to stay in the game when your putting in so much effort and getting nothing in return, but I know that won’t be happening any time soon under my new manager.”

With no fights to gauge it off it’s been hard for fans to measure the progress a fighter who caught the eye with wins over two of the tougher journey men when he turned over in 2017.

A more mature performance on Saturday showed the two years haven’t been wasted and the fighter himself feels like he made positive strides despite the lay off.

“I was only 19 when I had my first two fights so I definitely believe I’ve developed a lot since then and my body has grown nicely since then too,” he adds. 
 
“In my other two previous fights I tended to get dragged away from my game plan and put on a scrap for everyone to watch, but I said after each of them I will box better in my next one which I definitely believe I did.

“I kept a cool head and didn’t fall into the brawl. I went out first two rounds and boxed the way I wanted to box and really enjoyed it. The last two rounds I got dragged in a little bit but still believe I won them easily by keeping it on the long arm.”

“The judges scored it 39-37 but looking back on the fight I thought I won all four but that’s boxing. I got back in and got the win which is the main thing.”

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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