Paddy Gallagher poised for quick return following Gary Murray fight

This Friday night BBBoC Celtic welterweight champion Paddy Gallagher [12(8)-3(0)] returns the ring in Belfast.

The popular Lenadoon man boxes on the Ginley Promotions ‘Danger at The Devenis 2’ bill as he stays sharp ahead of a big new year.

The fight comes just under two months after Gallagher’s ill-fated title defence against Gary Murray in Edinburgh.

‘The Pat Man’ defended his belt that night via tenth round stoppage, but the result of the bruising encounter was secondary. Glaswegian Murray required surgery after the bout for a bleed on the brain, and was induced into a coma.

Thankfully Murray awoke just under three weeks later and is on course make a full recovery, however his boxing career has ended.

The aftermath was undoubtedly tough on Gallagher, but the Belfast man kept positive.

“I was okay after the Murray fight,” he told Irish-Boxing.com.

“The first few days were shit and had me doubting and thinking a lot, but unfortunately it’s part of the game and it can happen.”

“I was keeping in touch with his family so I knew a bit more than the general public and how he was progressing so well.”

Following a high stakes title defence, it’s back to the small hall scene this weekend for the first time in a few years.

Gallagher will face Hungarian Gergo Vari [21(7)-20(10)-1] over six rounds, and the 2010 Commonwealth gold medalist is just happy to be back in the ring.

The 28 year old described how “it will be good to box in The Devenish again. It’s not the Odyssey, but things are a lot more simple when it’s smaller.”

“It’s local to me and it’s where many other top fighters have fought so as long as I’m fighting I’m not too fussy. I’m 3-0, about 10-0 counting amateur fights, in the devenish so it’s good.”

“I had about three or four [opponents] knocked back from the Board over the last few weeks so finally to get a fight and a six rounder will be good to finish a good year.”

Kell Brook is set to move up in weight, Amir Khan is in the Jungle, Frankie Gavin is not looking for domestic fights, and Gary Corcoran and Bradley Skeete are both at the fringes of World level – the domestic scene is opening up for Gallagher, and he has plans for a big 2018.

He outlined how “next year is going to be the year I’ve talked about and I’ve wanted for the last few years.”

“A few titles, big shows, and maybe even headline my own.”