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Low Blows: Chris ‘The Ginger Ninja’ Blaney

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Once a week we give Irish boxers the chance to let the cat out of the bag and tell the tales of what happens away from the ring with ‘Low Blows.’

This week it’s the turn of Navan super middleweight Chris Blaney [1(1)-0], and the Ginger Ninja doesn’t disappoint.

Q: Hardest Trainer?
A: It’s a throw up between Jono Carroll and Ryan Burnett, but I have to give it to Ryan, the boy never stop. I remember we were away on a trip in Azerbaijan and we trained for 2 hours and he wanted to do more pads after training, the boy doesn’t ever want to stop.

Q: Biggest Moaner?
A: Biggest moaner is a tough one, probably Joe Ward as a junior. When I trained with him he would be always giving out about a tough session. I didn’t mind that cause I was always in his ear as well telling him to say something!

Q: Funniest?
A: That would have to be Roy Sheahan and Eric Donovan. Them two together could be a comedy act. Big Con Sheehan as well, always slagging Davy Oliver Joyce, it used to be hilarious.

Q: Biggest Ladies Man?
A: 100% Sonny Upton. I’ll probably get in trouble off him if I tell any stories so I’ll say nothing! I don’t know how the man does it. He’s a dirty dog, in heat all the time.

Q: Most Intelligent?
A: There’s not too many intelligent boxers, apart from myself! But I’d say Darren O’Neill or Adam Nolan, two brain boxes.

Q: Least Intelligent?
A: Joe Ward has to be the least intelligent, he’s just on a different level.

Q: Hardest Puncher?
A: Hardest puncher I ever sparred/fought was Roy Sheahan when he was 69kg. I was sparring him coming up to the all-Irelands when I was 75kg and he hit me an uppercut right on the nose, I couldn’t breathe out of it for 2 weeks

Q: Most Naturally Talented?
A: Again that goes to Joe Ward. Never likes to train but always gets the win and makes it look so so easy. The man’s an animal

Q: Cheapest?
A: There’s not too many cheap lads I can think of, but I’d say Christy Joyce. He’d peel an orange in his pocket so he wouldn’t have to share it, and keep the skin for later.

Q: Worst Dancer?
A: Chris Phelan by a country mile. He would just pull off some of the most ridiculously bad moves, and he use to think he was the bee’s knees.

Q: Worst Dress Sense?
A: Michael O’Reilly. He used to love the vest and shirt with tracksuit bottoms and Timberland boots.

Q: Biggest Messer?
A: Tough one this. It’s between Paddy Barnes and Mick Conlan. As everyone knows, they can’t be separated, and they pull all the pranks in the High Performance – even burning people’s boxing gear!

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

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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