Tipperary teen tempted by Pro offers from Selby and Macklin
Conor Ivors has not yet boxed at Senior level, but has already caught the attention of those in the professional game.
The Tipperary teenager has been subject to advances from Lee Selby’s team and MGM Marbella – who are headed by fellow Tipp fighter Matthew Macklin – and the youngster spent some time in Wales late last year training witht the talented Selby brothers.
However Ivors is aiming to represent Ireland the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and likely to stay in the ‘amateur’ game a while longer.
The 18 year old spoke to Irish-Boxing.com and revealed that “‘I’ve been asked by Lee Selby’s coach Tony Borg about it [turning pro] and been in contact with Matthew Macklin.”
“I was invited over by Lee himself on Facebook, he texted me asking would I be interested in going over, which I did.”
“I was sparring the pros over there.”
“I got asked to go over again soon, but I’m in training for the under 18’s next month.”
However the Ballingarry youngster will not be following Monaghan teen Aaron McKenna into the paid game, and admits that “I don’t think I’m quite ready yet, I feel I’ll try for the Tokyo Olympics first.”
“I’m still only 18.”
Ivors instead is fully focused on the Elite Youths/Under-18s in August, and a trip to St Petersburg for the World Championships should he emerge victorious from a field that could include Limerick’s European Junior champion Jason Harty and World Junior bronze medalist Kieran Molloy.
Describing his style, the Thurles BC fighter notes how “I’m a southpaw and I like to make people miss and counter – but at the same time I can go forward.”
“I reckon I’m mainly a counter puncher. A lot of people after fights tend to say I’m very awkward and hard to hit which is my objective.”
“I’ve beaten the likes of James McGivern for Irish titles, Eugene McKeever also.”
“I’m hoping to win these under-18’s and then get a medal in the World Championships.”
The upcoming Under-18s Championships are the second of 2016 and will be used to determine who will represent Ireland at the World Youth Championships in Russia.
Earlier this year in May saw the first edition of the Championships and were used to determine who would represent Ireland at the European Youth Championships, which were also in Russia. In May’s tournament, Ivors bowed out in the semi finals on a split decision to eventual champion Jason Harty.
