Brabazon goes Pro after Amateur ‘corruption’

By Dean Byrne

Karl Brabazon is set to make his pro debut on the undercard of Stephen Ormond’s breakthrough fight in Georges Hall, Liverpool, on the 19th of next month.

His opponent has yet to be announced for the four rounder but after Brabazon’s performances in the National Seniors, where he turned out to be a dark horse and placed second, the bout will be eagerly anticipated.

After a lengthy amateur career that began in St Saviours the 30 year old made the decision to turn pro after being completely over looked for the box offs.

“I had a brilliant championship but it was bitter sweet in the end. The high performance completely bypassed me for two lads who went out in the first round of the Seniors, a lad who went out in the second round, and Olympian John Joe Joyce, who I put out myself in the third round.”

Brabazon says that favouritism at amateur level in the sport in Ireland played a major role in his decision to join up with Pascal Collins and the Celtic Warrior stable.

“I rang Dominic O Rourke and asked him why he hadn’t considered me for the box offs and he told me he put three of his own lads who were on the grant through.  Craig Mc Carthy was picked by a panel.  I had done better than these lads in the championships plus Adam Nolan had broken his hand, and I was still forgotten about and that just made the decision to go pro much easier for me. I was runner up how can you justify their decision? ” the Lucan native tells Irishboxin.com:

Adding: “I wanted the chance to have an influence on the Irish team in the worlds and the Olympics, to make an impact, but I was sickened by the corruption and the way I was treated. I had been sparring with Stephen Ormond and Spike Sullivan while I was still an amateur and after the decision was made to overlook me I spoke to Pascal about joining up with him, he said he was happy to have me and that was that.”

There have been many twists and turns along the path to the pros for the ex-saviours man, dating back to when he won National Championships in 03, to when he injured a ligament in his thumb after winning the seniors in 05. That was to be his last fight until his incredible run in the championships this year.

“When I damaged the ligament in my thumb that put me out of the seniors in 05, I finished off the season then set up the club in Lucan. I wanted to get back in the ring sooner but I hadn’t anticipated how hard it would be to run an amateur boxing club. Nowadays I have Ed Griffin and Dermot Fitsimons who are a great help running the club, and that gives me the time to focus on training.” He added:

Brabazon’s opponent for the fight in Georges hall is to be announced within the next week. His camp say his style of boxing better suits the professional scene, and that they are making the Irish title a target for next year.

“It’s very important to start off with our first four rounds to get this first one behind us, after that I will be looking to have six fights a year and set my sights on the Irish title for next year. I’m a young 30 and I’m excited about the fight, but it’s just about getting used to the longer rounds, although I have a lot of amateur experience. My focus is now on the pro game, I want to make an impression so I need to put in a good performance in Liverpool. To make an impression you need to improve and beat these lads and you have to look to that Irish title, after that it’s the European and World rankings to focus on.”

 

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