U22 champ Conor Quinn – “I know now what I’m capable of”
The massive talent of Conor Quinn has flickered over the past few years, but the Belfast flyweight plans to shine brightly and fully in 2018.
At the 2016 World Youth Championships Quinn drew a Cuban in the opening round and, after running him close in a high-quality bout, was eliminated.
Absent from the U22s and Irish Seniors last year, the Clonard youngster exploded back into the collective Irish boxing conscious in November when he was narrowly edged out by Olympian Brendan Irvine in the Ulster Elite Senior Championships.
His display against the European Games and Championships silver and bronze medalist saw Quinn awarded the Best Young Boxer award and he came into the National U22 Championships this month a hot favourite.
On Saturday afternoon Quinn delivered on this tag with a unanimous decision win over Mark Corcoran of the Corinthians club in Dublin
Reflecting on the Irish title win, his sixth, Quinn told Irish-Boxing.com that “we were both trying to make each other make a mistake so that we could capitalise. However I think that sort of fight just suited me abit more and led to me being very relaxed and in control, getting my shots off that bit sharper.”
“Full credit to my opponent Mark Corcoran, he kept me on my toes from start to finish in a very technical fight.
That night in the Ulster Hall in November saw Quinn properly announce himself as a Elite Senior fighter. No longer a young prospect, the 19-year-old is now one of the top flyweights in the country.
Quinn can feel the change and described how “of course boxing in the seniors against Brendy was a huge benefit coming into this competition. I know now what I’m capable of and exactly how I should be performing coming into these competitions.”
“Although saying that, I treat every fight and every opponent with the same respect, anything can happen in the fight game.”
“I’ve always had a great team around me with my coaches and everyone else so I’ve always believed in my ability fully and believed I’m the best in the country going into every fight.”
“But actually getting the opportunity to go in and prove that I’m at the top level, coming up just short against a world class fighter, has helped my confidence tremendously.”
The West Belfast fighter is now eager to build some proper momentum, and is envisioning a busy few months.
Quinn outlined how “the plan now is to win the Elites coming up here, and then go and take gold at the U22 Europeans.”
“I’m still only 19 so I want as much competition and as many gold medals as possible and these are the best competitions for that.”
Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)
