Introducing: Siobhán Ní Laoire

Just as Irish boxing loses possibly its most famous white collar graduate, it gets another.

Sean Creagh did more than anyone to prove an extensive amateur background isn’t always a necessity to having a pro career, and Siobhán Ní Laoire looks set to take up that mantle.

The Limerick-based Kerry lightweight looks set to become the seventh Irish female pro having signed to Boxing Ireland Promotions.

Like Creagh, who has retired with an eye injury, Ní Laoire has roots in the white collar circuit and was late to the game but, unlike the Tallaght fighter, she progresses to the pros with a lot of amateur success behind her.

In a relatively short stint with the headguard on, the Corpus Christi graduate won Munster titles and the Irish Intermediate 60kg crown as recently as last December.

The Killarney fighter now believes it’s time try out the pro game and should debut on Celtic Clash 7 come November 24th.

“I feel it’s the best decision for me and my boxing,” Ní Laoire told Irish-Boxing.com when asked about her decision to enter the paid ranks.

“The amateur game has been good to me, but now it’s time to move forward. This decision wasn’t made lightly and I couldn’t do it without the support of my partner Maeve and my family and friends,” she added before giving some background for pro fans interested in the latest addition to the ranks.

“I’m a Kerry woman based in Limerick for the past 10 years on and off. I work full time in Social Care, in homeless services in Limerick. I love my job and find it very rewarding.”

“I got into boxing quiet late through participation in a white collar boxing tournament with my former club Corpus Christi in Limerick. That was 2012, I absolutely fell in love with the sport through that and have boxed ever since. I’m training out of Functional Fitness in Limerick with my S&C coach Noel Bowen.”

Style-wise the latest addition to the Boxing Ireland stable likes to impose herself on opponents but claims she has the adaptability to be responsive when needed.

“I like to come forward and press my opponent but can use my range. I like to respond to what’s in front of me and impose my style on my opponent.”

The new pro, who will be trained by Eddie Hyland in Dublin, is set to debut in Dublin on Celtic Clash 7, a show that should be officially confirmed for November 24 in the coming days – and claims her sole career goal for now is to emerge victorious that night.

“Right now winning my debut is the goal, which is what will happen,” she continued.

Like fellow Limerick-based puncher, Graham McCormack, Ní Laoire will work with former Irish Champion and the oldest of the famous boxing Hyland brothers, Eddie, in Dublin and is already seeing improvements.

She described how “I’m excited about working with Eddie in Hyland Boxing Academy in SBG Tallaght. It’s an honour to be part of an already successful team of coaches like the Hylands and pros like Carl McDonald, Graham McCormack, Darren Cruise, and Martin Quinn.”

“It’s important for me to be part of a team that will push and challenge me and that have experienced success. Success breeds success, and I’m looking forward to learning and developing as a pro under Eddie and his team in HBA.”

“The biggest changes I see are bringing my style into a more pro style. Sitting down on my shots, relaxing a little more and moving the mind frame away from three rounds into longer fights.”

“I’m learning with every session I have with Eddie and I’m looking forward to showing the progress I’ve made on my debut,”

Taking time to thank her sponsors, Ní Laoire added that “they have come on board and have made this journey possible – Functional Fitness, SBG Tallaght, Eats of Eden Limerick, Michael O Leary PVC, Niall O Sullivan Decors, Dual Nature Massage Therapy, and The Commerical Bar Limerick.”