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Owen Duffy not getting carried away following dream debut

It’s not quite ‘don’t believe the hype’ from Owen Duffy but the Cavan puncher is sensible enough not to read too much into an impressive pro debut.

The light middleweight novice was just three seconds past having Antoni Hristov gone in 60 seconds and started pro life with a brilliant stoppage win much to the delight of a sizable pro crowd at the Good Counsel GAA club in March.

The manner of the victory saw some coal shovelled into the furnace of the steam engine hype train but Duffy is keen to stop it in it’s tracks ahead of his second pro outing at the same venue on June 16th as part of the ‘Celtic Clash 6’ undercard.

Duffy was on cloud nine after the ‘dream start’ but pulled himself back down to earth within days and seems aware that not only can’t he live off one good performance, but that he still has a lot to learn in the pro ranks.

“Ah, it was a dream start, to be honest,” he recalled when speaking to Irish-Boxing.com.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better start. From the early stoppage to having the support I had.”

“Still, all and all, looking back at the fight itself, I still have a lot to learn if I want to be competing with the top in my division in the future.”

“The hype of a win only lasts so long, I learnt that from the past.”

“I was straight back to training on the Tuesday of my fight. Back into a normal routine and looking forward to the next one,” the fighter who prefers to plot rather than reflect added before also playing it humble with regard to the power his carries.

“I can see why you could gain confidence from the KO]. It was a surprise, I didn’t expect it so early. It is nice to know you’ve got some form of power behind your punches to affect someone. So you get a small confidence in that regard, but for me unless you’re beating the best you’ve no reason to be.”

Considering he is eager to get his education on the job, Duffy may want rounds when he fights for the second time as a pro next month.

However, like all fighters, even novice ones aware more time in the ring is meant to prove beneficial, the desire to KO an opponent always remains.

“I never expect knockouts. I just to go out, stick to the game plan from the coaches but if the opportunities arise, hell yeah. In saying that, I definitely need a feel of a four rounder as I’m still a novice pro.”

The Tony Davitt-guided fighter stressed he has being working on his all-round game rather than any specifics going into Celtic Clash 6 but does believe that will lead to a more fluid style.

“I wouldn’t say I have any specifics for this fight. I am still working on mastering the basics of the pro style game. If anything. expect a lot more movement in my next fight. Hopefully see a different style to me next time out.”

The Cavan man ticked a number of boxes in his first fight and nailed one of the more important criteria – ticket selling.

Duffy brought a big crowd as the curtain came up on his career on the Celtic Clash 5 card and they added to the night as a whole. The fighter himself knows how important support can be for a fighter working his way up the small hall ladder and is grateful.

“The crowd for my debut was phenomenal. They made sure to let themselves be heard and created a great atmosphere. I’d like to thank everyone who went and supported and to those who couldn’t make it but for the kind messages before and after fight.”

“I don’t know about anyone else but, to me, the support, especially as an early pro, is a massive boost.”

“It’s an extra pressure – but in a good way – to perform and execute the plan on the night.”

“Hopefully everyone who made the first one all enjoyed it, wishing to make the next one and I’ve 20 or 30 people who didn’t make the first one interested in making the next one. I cant wait now!”

TBA still rests opposite Duffy’s name on BoxRec for June 16th and he has no idea as to who he will face. In keeping with the recent ‘Trust Tony’ theme, though, he will leave all that down to his manager and trainer.

“There is no word from my manager and trainer Tony Davitt yet. Like John Joyce said in a recent interview, I trust in Tony. I’ll listen away to him during training and the fight plan. I am sure he’ll let me know when he reckons I need to know. ”

“I am looking forward to it now.”

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

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