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Norway nerves no problem for ‘buzzing’ Shannon Edge

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On Saturday night in Oslo, in front of a rapidly-filling 10,000-seater stadium, and beamed live via Norwegian terrestrial channel TV, a teenager from Kildare will step into the ring.

Shannon Edge of St Brigid’s Boxing Club in Edenderry has been given a once in a lifetime opportunity on the homecoming bout of Cecilia Brækhus at The Spektrum.

Professional boxing has been decriminalised in the Scandinavian state following over thirty years on the fringes, paving the way for the unbeaten IBF, WBA, WBO, and WBC welterweight champion to finally fight on home soil in what will be her twenty-ninth contest.

‘The First Lady’ defends her title in a rematch with Frenchwoman Anne Sophie Mathis, and Ireland’s Edge will feature prominently on the card.

Norwegian underage star Madeleine Angelsen needed an opponent, and Edge and her coach Liam Brereton were only too happy to oblige.

Edge admits to having some nerves ahead of the bout, but told Irish-Boxing.com that “the opportunity itself cannot be missed, I’m buzzing!”

“I know it’ll be difficult going into the lions’ den, to box Angelsen in front of her home crowd and boxing in front of 10,000 people and live on television naturally makes me nervous.”

“But I just have to do what I love to do, and that’s to box.”

Aside from the scale, the fight is definitely something different for the light welterweight who is used to preparing for week long tournaments. She described how “training for this fight is just about totally focusing on the big fight Saturday night.”

“When France and Canada were over doing a training camp in the club recently there was an option of a fight against both teams – which we passed over – just keeping Oslo and October 1st as the main focus.

For those not too well-versed in underage amateur boxing, Edge explained how she has an adaptive style, commenting how “if the fight needs me to box on the front foot, I box on the front foot. If the fight needs me to box on the back foot, I box on the back foot.

“I have received many compliments regarding my quick feet movement. I love studying Floyd Mayweather’s movement and try to use that when I can.”

While she is familiar with her opponent, she has yet to share a ring with Angelsen, but detailed how “I’ve seen her box in international competitions and we have become quite friendly. We have a strong game plan we will be sticking to for Saturday night.”

Saturday promises to be one of the biggest events in women’s boxing history, and six-time national champion Edge noted that “pro boxing is something that really appeals to me.”

“I like the allure of boxing in front of big crowds. I love the buzz it brings, the weigh-ins, the hype before the fights, it is unbelievable.”

“Obviously the pro game can be very tough at times, it’s not all glamour, it’s a lot of hard work – but it’s something I will seriously take a look at in the years ahead.”

“I would love to go to Tokyo 2020 and maybe a move to the pro ranks after that.”

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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