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Low Blows: Tony Senior

We’ve Low Blows coming from Down Under today in our weekly feature.

Former top Crumlin amateur and pro super middleweight Tony Senior [8(6)-0] is the man in the hot seat this week and the Sydney-based boxer shows that he can hit hard with his words as well as his punches.

Q: Hardest Trainer?
A: My stable mate Luke Jackson is a freak! The 2012 Olympian lives in the gym. Most fighters can be found sitting on a bar stool after a fight but Luke would be out running 10kms the following day. He’s one extremely dedicated individual.

Q: Biggest Moaner?
A: Guilty as charged! I’ve been given a few nicknames over the years and
Moany Tony is one that certainly springs to mind.

Q: Funniest?
A: Dean Byrne. I remember Dean broke out of an Irish squad training facility in Crystal Palace to meet me in a nightclub in London once. Still, he managed to make it back unnoticed the following morning and won an international contest that night! If you were to write a book on him people would say it was far-fetched.

Q: Biggest Ladies’ Man?
A: Tony Bates. A major player in the ladies stakes. I don’t think he will be settling down anytime soon.

Q: Most Intelligent?
A: Conor McGregor doesn’t have a PHD, but in a fighting sense he has to go down as the most intelligent guy I know. You have to admire his methodical approach to training routines from cutting weight to the way he conducts himself with the media, it’s impeccable. I first sparred Conor when he was fifteen years old and it’s amazing to see what he has achieved in life. An iconic figure the world over. Respect

Q: Least Intelligent?
A: Michael McDonagh from Crumlin wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.
He would travel all the way to training only to realise he had forgotten his training bag!

Q: Hardest Puncher?
A: My old foe Jimmy Sweeney could bang a bit. It’s great to see him dominating the world of bare knuckle boxing at the moment. Pound-for-pound, my old team mate Philip Sutcliffe Junior is a tremendous puncher.

Q: Most Naturally Talented?
A: Gavin Brown was without a doubt the most naturally talented,he had everything. It’s such a shame he didn’t fulfil his potential. If he was boxing today I’m sure he would be part of the Cyclone Promotions set up as Barry McGuigan was his biggest fan.

Q: Cheapest?
A: Johnny Hand. He would offer to drop you down the Stadium and then hit you up for the price of the petrol!

Q: Worst Dancer?
A: Andy O’Neill has some moves! – although he must have hung up the disco shoes because he’s usually in New York or Vegas doing cuts for some of the biggest names in boxing. A character if ever I met one.

Q: Worst Dress Sense?
A: Frank Maloney. He looked after my brother at the start of his career.cI’m not sure what’s worse, his Union Jack suits or the fact his name is now Kellie!

Q: Biggest Messer?
A: My team mate Paul “Showtime” Fleming. Currently 23-0 and promoted by Top Rank. Is the life and soul of the gym, his backflips and cartwheels look life-threatening! Training can be fun when you have him singing and dancing throughout the session.

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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