Pat Mongan – “I know what I want, and I know how to get it”

It’s been a difficult few weeks for Pat Mongan.

The Galway lightweight’s grandmother passed away recently but Mongan would still chose to enter the Senior Elite Championships, and the 28 year old got his campaign off with a win on Saturday.

Olympic BC’s Mongan outworked Gerard Matthews in their 60kg semi final to claim a 4-1 split decision win and book his place in the Friday’s decider.

The 2014 Intermediate champion revealed to Irish-Boxing.com that “it’s been a tough couple of weeks, I haven’t had much sparring. No excuses, but my grandmother died the day before the weigh-in. I was contemplating not even weighing in and going for it. I was doubting”

“But I did want to go myself, and I was told get going. My grandmother definitely provided an incentive for me.”

Mongan conceded that he was far from his best against Matthews, but vowed to improve for the final

“I got the win,” he said. “I made hard work of it, but lesson learned. I was only 70% in that ring right there.”

“I’m absolutely buzzing for the final. You don’t get to a Senior final and leave it behind you. I know what I want, and I know how to get it.”

In the final Mongan will be faced by experienced Dub George Bates, and the short Connacht fighter joked: “I’d say he’s taller, but sure who’s not taller than me!”

“I’ll just do my usual thing and go to town. If I box to my best, with my pressure and speed, I’ve no doubt that I can win.”

Eric Donovan joins Gavan Casey and Joe O’Neill on Episode 2 of the Irish Boxing Show: