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It’s decision time for Dylan Moran – ‘Real Deal’ weighing up interesting options

Dylan Moran [16(7)-1(1)] has come to a fork in the road and will have to decide whether to go right or left over the coming months.

Moran has recovered well from the surprise exit of his promoters from boxing during the summer and rounded off a pro active pandemic hampered year with a win in Spain, on Saturday night.

The welterweight made it three wins in as many months and three victories since being left in limbo as recent as July, with a decision victory over David Bency.

Now the free agent has decisions of a different kind to be concerned with. There are promotional contracts on the table, potential new bases and more to be mulled over.

Moran will take his time to make sure he is in the right frame of mind to make the right choice at a vital stage in his career.

“At the moment it’s relax for a bit, I’ve had a busy few months and I’ve some decisions to make in regards to contracts and where I’m going to set up base,” Moran told Irish-boxing.com.

“All in good time. I’m in no rush. I’ve made the most of this pandemic and the body needs a bit of a break so that’s what I’ll do before I get going again,” he adds before stressing regardless of who he works with he will be pushing for big fights.

“That’s exactly what I want next and exactly what I’ll be pushing for it’s been a long time coming.”

The patient approach is a wise one, particularly at this stage in Moran’s career. It seems ‘The Real Deal’ is growing in wisdom and learning from his in and out of ring experiences.

Saturday’s fight was a prime example. The welterweight took a sweet spot solarplexius shot early against Bency and admits it ‘sucked the life out of’ him.

Continuing to be open and honest he revealed he got flash backs of his sole career defeat suffered at the hands of Dennis Okoth in the summer of 2019.

Instantly reflecting on what he did wrong that night, Moran used the experience to navigate his way through the round and ultimately through the fight without any further worries.

“He landed a shot right on the sweet spot,” he explains.

“It’s that little area that you can’t train for, right below your chest bone. It sucked the life out of me, but I tucked up and survived. It’s valuable experience in the bank, which is exactly what this fight was all about.

“I actually got flashbacks of America and ‘grab him’ was my first thought. I had been there before and that’s what it’s all about, being put in those tough positions and coming through them.”

The Deise favourite eventually beat Bency on the back foot, out boxing a potential banana skin away from home.

The plan was always to get the rounds in and to avoid any stand and fight temptations.

“The fight went exactly how we planned we wanted to box on the back foot and show discipline for 8 rounds. That’s exactly what I did, so happy days. Usually I go off track and forget about what I had been practicing but I didn’t so I’m happy with it.”

“I’d seen him fight the last time in Spain so I know he was a tough guy and always puts in a good shift. His strength surprised me alright he had power.”

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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