Four-time Senior champion to return for next month’s tournament

15 years after exploding on to the scene, Roy Sheahan will make his return to the Irish Senior Elite Championships.

Back in 2002, at just 17 years old, the St Michael’s Athy fighter upset Michael Kelly and made it to the final where he was defeated by future European champion and World title challenger Paul McCloskey.

Sheahan would win three consecutive welterweight titles between 2006 and 2008, win EU gold in 2007, and would be unlucky to miss out on qualification for the Beijing Olympics.

After this he would continue fighting until 2013, but would return in 2015 at light heavyweight to win a fourth Irish title off the back of just three weeks training.

The Kildare boxer would not enter the next Irish Championships, but will return for the tournament next month aged 32.

This time round however he will be competing in the middleweight division, and is believed to be looking hugely impressive in training.

At the weight he will be joined by some top names, including club mate John Joyce, last year’s runner-up Conor Wallace, Caoimhin Hynes, and perhaps Rhys Moran who won an U18 Irish title last year.

The experienced stylist is routinely named as one of the most naturally talented Irish fighters, as well as one of the biggest messers, of recent times