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The Real Business starts now for Real Deal Dylan Moran


Dylan Moran [9(5)-0] is aware he has to stop pinching himself and start preparing his hands to do damage to opponents in the ring.

The Waterford welter has just signed a promotional deal with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and has been handed a fight live on DAZN and Sky Sports.

Moran will box on March 9th at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino on the undercard of a world title double-header starring Dmitry Bivol and Maurice Hooker defending their belts against Irish-American Joe Smith of Star Boxing and Mikkel LesPierre respectively.

The news was a welcome surprise for Moran fans and fans of Irish boxing as a whole and it also caught the Kilmacthomas 24-year-old guard to some extent.

Indeed, he has admitted to being reduced to pinching himself for the last week, but now he has been offered the chance to impress a worldwide audience, grow his profile significantly. as well as being handed a pathway to develop from prospect to contender the Déise starlet knows it’s time to get down to business. 

Star Boxing, it seems, certainly don’t want to hand around too long.

“It’s crazy to be honest, it’s as big as it gets really, I’m still pinching myself, but I realise it’s time to up the game now and work harder,” Moran told Irish-Boxing.com.

“Now is when I need to be performing, I’ve been dreaming about this for years. I have been dreaming of this since I’m a kid and I’m ready to make the most of it.”

“They come with a great plan, no waiting around. I will be busy with fights, start making a name for myself in America, get the record up there, and then get involved in the big fights.”

It is a massive turnaround for the St Paul’s graduate. He has been building steadily since turning over in 2016 and, since signing with Assassin, who remain on as his managers, he has gotten busier and fought on TG4. 

It’s next level stuff from now on for Moran and he is delighted to be moving away from the grind suffered by most early doors Irish pros and urges those still waiting on a breakthrough to keep the faith.

“You know, there’s so many guys turning pro now and have to come up through the gutter like me and everyone else. We have no big sponsors, no big backing, but just keep selling the tickets and keep working hard – you never know what’s around the corner.”

Moran always had faith and belief he would reap the reward for hard work and benefit from his talent, but he admits he expected the journey to potential security and big time action to take a little longer.  

“I was surprised at it coming so soon. Kaz [Evans, Assassin Promotions] rang me and just said I have some amazing news for you. When he told me took me a while to believe him.”

“I always knew I had to work myself into a position to get an offer like this and I’m here now . These guys come along and have taken all the worries and stresses of selling tickets and that away also they’ve given me the big stage to perform on and that’s all I need.”

The one potential negative for Irish fight fans with regard to Moran signing with a Stateside promotional outfit was the fact he may be lost to the Irish scene.

With boxing building well down south, the Waterford favourite seemed to fit the bill as a bill topper.

A ticket seller with talent and charisma, Moran reveals he will still have a presence at home, pointing out it was the first thing he wanted assurances on before signing the contract with Star.

“I will definitely be fighting at home,” he states animatedly.

“That’s the first question I asked can I fight at home . I’ve got great support here and not everyone can make it to America so I will be still boxing at home America will be great but nothing beats fighting here .”

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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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