Brandon McCarthy 110 percent sure he can maintain 100 percent National final winning record
Brandon McCarthy is confident he maintain his 100 percent Irish decider record when he partakes in what he believes could be the standout National Elite final.
McCarthy has reached and won an amazing 13 domestic finals over a successful underage innings not to mention coming out successful the Intermediate final two fight this year.
The 18-year-old is has now stepped up to Elite level, but doesn’t see why the success train has to stop.
It’s the same ring but a completely different stage when the St Michaels Athy fighter takes on fellow talented youth graduate and new to the senior scene prospect Barry McReynolds of Holy Trinity in the 60kg showpiece.
However McCarthy remains confident of making it 15 final wins from 15 final appearances live on TG4.
“I’m very confident going into the final,” McCarthy told Irish-boxing.com
“I don’t mean to sound too big headed, but Friday will be my 15th Irish Championship and 15th final and hoping to take home my 15th title. So if I perform as I have been I’m very confident I’ll take home the 60kg title.”
While he predicts victory, McCarthy doesn’t necessarily foresee any easy nights work.
The emerging talent faces fellow underage achiever and current Ulster champion McReynolds and is aware of what he is up against.
“I’ve been away to Europeans Championships with Barry McReynolds and have always rated him as a great boxer and a great guy. I expect Friday to be tough and I expect it to be one of the fights of the nights.
“We are both multiple Irish title champions and have both won European medals so it’s going to be exciting.”
There is a confident maturity about McCarthy, but it’s wrapped around an infectious air of youthful excitement.
This campaign is his first ever Elite senior innings and it seems it will always be special to him.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be in an Elite Final. This is what I’ve been working towards since a Boy 1 and now the time is here I can’t believe it,” he adds in pure teenage style.
“It’s a great achievement to be in the final at only 18 years old like not many have done it and to win will be one of my greatest achievements.”
The Kilkenny native, who flirted with the idea of turning pro last year, now seems to have his sights set on a longer term pro career- and believes a win on Friday will be step one on the road to Paris.
“Winning these would mean a lot to me and is a good building stone towards 2024 and my future in senior boxing. You see guys winning a lot of things in the underage, but never seem to make a breakthrough in the Elite ranks so I’m hoping this Friday that I can and get the show on the road.”