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Cork 17-year-old to turn professional


Irish boxing has a newest youngest professional fighter.

It has been announced tonight that Cork 17-year-old James Power has ditched the amateur vest and will start boxing professionally, taking the title of ‘Ireland’s youngest pro’ from Golden Boy starlet Aaron McKenna.

A two-time Irish champion in the underage ranks, Power boxed out of Glen BC, Fr Horgan’s, and, most recently, Legacy BC, in the amateurs.

The young Rebel was last seen in the ring in the Under-18 Irish Championships last month where he was beaten in the lightweight final by David Oliver Joyce, the consensus boxer of the tournament.

Noting weight issues in the aftermath, the still-growing Power will most likely compete above lightweight in the paid game.

For his early assault on the pros, the teenage will be trained by Dublin coach Declan Geraghty Sr while management outfit Assassin Boxing have come on board in an advisory capacity alongside well-connected Crumlin-Kilkenny cut-man Andy O’Neill.

As the Boxing Union of Ireland requires professional fighters to be 18 years of age or older, Power will look abroad for his professional debut – with a date planned next month in Mexico – before returning to Ireland when he comes of age next April.

Power will be a punching pupil, and will remain in secondary school for his first year of pro life as he looks to complete his Leaving Certificate exams next summer

The Leeside youngster said that “it’s been a lifelong goal and dream of mine to turn professional. I’m suited to the pro style and I want to get in there and just show people what I can do’

“It won’t be easy but I know my style is more suited to the pro game and I am confident in my abilities.”

“I hope in six months time, I can come back to Ireland and go in as an undefeated pro, having already had my ‘warm up’ fights abroad, and I can build on what will hopefully be a great platform.”

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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