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Thomas Maughan – “I was out of boxing, but I came back and I’m doing it properly now”

Cavan’s Thomas Maughan is back in boxing and secured his second all-Ireland title at the weekend.

The rangey light heavyweight defeated young Pierre Stokes from Athlone to win the National U18 title.

A scrappy fight, the bout was pulled to a halt in the third after Stokes suffered a cut on his brow, handing Maughan an RSC-I 3 win.

Maughan – who is coached by veteran Brian McKeown, the man behind John Joe Nevin’s rise to the top – spoke to Irish-Boxing.com afterwards.

The Ulster teen described how “it was scrappy enough, there was a lot of holding.”

“I found I was sharper and getting in quicker. That’s why, I digged hard and I got the win.”

Maughan, who received a bye to the final, had witnessed Stokes’ semi-final win over Ryan Bolger, and came to the fight prepared.

He outlined that “I watched him and saw how he was and then I put my own strategies into it for me to beat him.”

The title win comes following a period away from the ring for Maughan who has since rededicated himself to the sport – and is reaping the rewards.

“I was out of boxing, but I came back and I’m doing it properly now,” he explained

“It’s a good feeling, I had already won one before but just getting back into it to win another one, I couldn’t have expected more.”

Should selections be as expected, the European Youths in Turkey this September are next up for Maughan, and the confident Cavan youngster is aiming for the top of the podium.

“Hopefully I’ll get a gold,” he stated.

“I’ve never been on an Ireland team, I’ve been on the Ulster team but this is a new thing, new things every time, we’ll see what happens next.”

Joe O’Neill and Gavan Casey speak to Jason Quigley on Episode 5 of The Irish Boxing Show:

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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