Egan undecided on future

25 August 2008 – by Mark Doyle

Kenny Egan has yet to decide whether to turn professional following his silver medal success in the Beijing Olympics.

The 26-year-old light-heavyweight was one of the most impressive fighters on show in China and it is highly likely that he will be offered professional deals by a number of interested promoters.

However, Egan is putting all thoughts of quitting the amateur game to one side for the time being at least.

I havent signed anything yet or even though about my future, the affable Dubliner insisted.

Im just looking forward to getting home for a bit of time out.

It has been a long five weeks between training camps and the Olympic Games themselves.

It has been very mentally draining but Im proud of the way I performed.

Im captain of the Irish team and Im proud to be. In four years time, I could still be captain.

I love the amateur game. Thats what I am all about. There are younger lads on the team who will hopefully stay amateur and could be there in 2012 also.

Egan, meanwhile, refused to be overly critical of the performance of the judges in his 11-7 defeat by China’s Xiapoing Zhang in Sunday’s light-heavyweight decider.

Most neutrals felt that Egan had won the fight but, despite being devastated by the outcome, he tried to remain upbeat.

Theres nothing I can do about it. A scores a score and I just have to settle for silver. Im disgusted but thats how things go; thats sport. There has to be a loser,” he mused.

He threw a few shots there where he hit my elbow and I could hear the Chinese going bananas. I obviously knew he was getting a score. I knew myself it was going to be a hard fight after that.

Its ridiculous. Over the last two weeks weve known body shots havent been scoring.

He was throwing shots and getting scores, fair play to him.

I knew it was going to be hard if he got a lead or if it was in any way close. Even the countback he won in the previous fight, that was close.

I was chasing a little bit in the end but I had to. I wasnt going to sit back and let the clock tick away.