Ricky Hatton to train Ireland’s newest pro
Fan favourite and former world champion Ricky Hatton will train Ireland’s newest pro.
Late Friday night Irish-boxing.com revealed Derry/Donegal middleweight Brett McGingty had signed pro terms and officially left the amateur game.
After hinting at making the move early in this year the now former ‘made for the pros’ amateur eventually turned over and teamed up with L.A.-based management outfit Sheer Sports.
The move see’s the 21-year-old become the third Ulsterman on Sheers book. The management company run by Lyle Green and Ken Sheer, look after the careers of Donegal middleweight Jason Quigley and Monaghan brothers, as well as McGinty’s old amateur team-mates, Aaron and Stevie McKenna.
The McKenna brothers are mentored by a combination of former Trainer of the Year winner Robert Garcia and South African heavyweight Courage Tshabalala in LA.
There were questions as to whether that would be the route the flamed haired middle would take, but Irish-boxing.com can confirm Ginty will have Ricky Hatton as Head Coach.
McGinty will train out of Manchester and work under the guidance of Hatton, but will maintain a relationship with Eugene O’Kane. O’Kane will work with Ireland’s latest pro between camps as well as weekends and will be in the corner for each of his fights.
Hatton currently has Irish connections in terms of Chris Blaney. The British fight legend trains the Meath favourite and Irish title hopeful. ‘The Hitman’ has also previously worked with the Upton brothers Sonny, Anto and Paulie.
Sheer Sports are certainly excited about signing the 21-year-old and are backing him to become a world champion.
“We are absolutely delighted to add Brett to our stable of fighters. He’s immensely talented and a young man of high caliber. This is the beginning of what we know will be a fantastic journey to becoming a World Champion,” they said in a statement sent to Irish-boxing.com.
The fighter himself commented, I’m really looking forward to getting started. I excited to be with Sheer Sports.”
A successful amateur, McGinty won European Schoolboys bronze, Commonwealth Youth silver, and captained Ireland at the 2016 World Youth Championships.
As a Senior, the Ulster youngster is a two-time Ulster runner-up and twice Irish Elite runner-up.
A long-time amateur welterweight [69kg/152lbs], McGinty moved to middleweight [75kg/165lbs] in 2017 and is expected to fight as a middleweight [72.5kg/160lbs] in the pros.
Born in Derry and trained out of the Oakleaf Gym in the city, McGinty has lived his life in the Donegal village of St Johnston
