Waite dedicates win to mother who passed away the morning of his National Elite semi

TJ Waite dedicated his National Elite Championship semi final victory to his mother who tragically passed away just hours before he entered the ring.

Indeed brave Wait revealed his mother was the inspiration behind an emotional semi-final victory over McKay of St Pauls.

Waite decided to go ahead with the fight on Friday feeling it could double as a tribute to his mother Suzie, who lost her battle with illness that same morning.

“It wasn’t easy going down, but I felt I had to. Mum gave me that little bit more inspiration,” said Waite.

“Two weeks ago, on the day I won the Ulster title, we had been told that mum might only have days to live, so we knew this time was coming.

“It was great to be able to win the Ulster title before she died and I would love to win the Irish title as well.

“Going down to Dublin, I just had to blank everything out. When I got there I had to have Mickey Hawkins from Holy Trinity do my corner, because the Ormeau ABC coach had been diverted around Newry due to the weather and couldn’t get there.”

Waite will fight International Brendan Irvine in the Flyweight decider this coming Friday night.