“I don’t see anyone stopping me” – Connor Jordan feels he can be Ireland’s next top 49kg

Edged out by the eventual winner last time, Connor Jordan is back a year older, wiser, and is ready to take over the Irish 49kg spot for the foreseeable future.

The Wexford little man was left disgusted by a semi-final loss to Blaine Dobbins in the 2017 edition of the National Elite Senior Championships but now has a chance to claim the title tomorrow night.

One of just two entries at 49kg – with both Dobbins and 2017 runner-up Darryl Moran not entering – Jordan faces Ricky Nesbitt in the decider at the National Stadium.

The St Aidan’s boxer has been building quietly over the last year, and goes into the fight in high spirits, telling Irish-Boxing.com that “I’ve been keeping active.”

“I’m sharp, I feel sharp going into these. I’m very confident, especially since last year. I’ve had a year of Senior boxing, he hasn’t, and that’s going to stand to me.”

A rangey, ‘amateur’-style fighter, the 19-year-old has been moving with the times and is adopting a more aggressive approach – something which should mesh well with ‘Nasty’ Nesbitt.

Jordan explained how “I’m mostly an outside fighter, but I’ve been changing it a bit. In the last half a year I’ve been going forward a bit more.”

“In general though I’m more of a stand-back counter-puncher but in each fight I try to go forward and take it to them. Ring dominance, that’s what they want now.”

Set to take place in a busy National Stadium in among 15 other finals, it is the most important fight of Jordan’s career thus far.

The Ferns teenager though isn’t feeling the pressure.

“This is definitely my biggest fight to date,” he said.

“I’ve boxed in multi-nations tournaments where you come in to music and all that, but it won’t be anything in comparison to this. There’s a good few people coming up to support me.”

“I rise to the occasion, one hundred percent.”

While Dobbins was unable to secure a place on the Irish team for the major championships last year, Jordan is “one hundred percent” sure that he can be the man to take over from triple Olympian Paddy Barnes.

The Yellow Belly outlined how “with me, with the weight, it’s just getting my head right and dieting at the right time. I know if I can do that I can stay at 49kg for a long time.”

“To be honest, I don’t see anyone stopping me. If I can stay fit and I can stay sharp, I don’t see anyone stopping me.”