Fitness FeaturesHeadline News

Sean McGlinchey scores brilliant Belfast debut win in four-round war

Sean McGlinchey had a debut to remember tonight in Belfast.

The Derry super middleweight made his pro bow as the chief support at The Devenish Venue on the Kieran Farrell Promotions ‘A New Era’ show and slugged his way to a first win.

Taking on a strong first foe in Josef Obselo, ‘Mummy’s Bhoy’ McGlinchey delighted his loud and large travelling support, some of whom came wearing nappies and soothers, with a cracking four-round points win.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist has been training with former world champion Glenn McCrory in Donegal, trimming up substantially and developing a real crowd-pleasing style.

This could be seen from the opening bell, with the 24 year old Creggan tearing into Obeslo from the off and hurting the big Central European with a straight right that saw him lurch over the ropes. Further big shots would follow throughout the round, with the Czechian sent stumbling across the ring toward the end of a furious first stanza.

McGlinchey began the second similarly, unloading a flurry on the ropes before the Obselo began to fire off combinations off his own. Descending into a firefight, the journeyman would begin goading McGlinchey, drawing him into exchanges

Obeslo, who normally fights in between light heavy and cruiser, weighed in 16lbs heavier than the Irishman this afternoon, and he would look to use this stone-plus advantage to smother McGlinchey, but the Derry boxer would continue to throw big shots undeterred.

Switch-hitting throughout, McGlinchey began to find a rhythm in the third, throwing less but landing more.

By the fourth both boxers were visibly tired, but McGlinchey continued to march forward and push Obeslo back to close out the fight and the round.

Going to the cards after one of the most entertaining Irish debuts of recent memory, McGlinchey was awarded a 40:36 win by referee John Lowey.

The debut win means that McGlinchey’s brand new professional ledger starts off at 1(0)-0, while the brilliantly game Obeslo drops to 6(4)-36(4)-3.

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