Young Waterford prospect Rhys Moran handed debut date

Young Waterford prospect Rhys Moran will punch for pay for the first time in early 2020.

The Deise fighter has been handed a date and will officially join the pro circuit on February 1.

The Celtic Warrior based operator has been bidding his time waiting for debut news, new he got last week. Moran will fight without the vest for the first time on the ever growing Celtic Clash X card.

How about a debut!? Waterford’s amateur standout @RhysMoran4 was been working tirelessly at the Celtic Warriors gym for a loooooong time now wait for his chance to turn pro. Well it comes on #CelticClashX in Belfast on Feb 1. pic.twitter.com/CGkI20O9Jw

— Boxing Ireland Promotions (@LoveIrishBoxing) December 14, 2019

Who Moran will face has yet to be revealed, but he won’t be to picky eager just to get the ball rolling.

The super middleweight decided to turn professional following the National U22 Championships at the start of the year and, in many ways, looks to be perfect for the paid game.

Young but with pedigree, power, and popularity, the 6’4″ Tramore puncher has been training under Paschal Collins alongside the likes of Niall Kennedy, Spike O’Sullivan and Craig O’Brien for some time now

Speaking when revealing the move into the pro ranks earlier this year Moran told Irish-boxing.com: “I just thought my time was up in the amateurs. I felt, myself, in my own personal achievements, that I’ve done what I wanted to do in the amateurs.”

“I decided to turn over and I’m currently training in the Celtic Warriors Gym in Dublin. Paschal’s doing a bit of training with me.”

Just turned 21, Moran was a very solid amateur and described how “I’ve boxed six times for Ireland, I won a silver at the Odivelas Box Cup, I won the Celtic Box Cup three times, I’ve an Irish Colleges Youth title.”

“I won the Under-18 Championships back in 2016 and competed in the Europeans. I got to the last 16 where I was beaten by a Georgia, who was a very good fighter.”

“All through my amateur career I’ve been boxing the best lads, Michael Nevin, Kieran Molloy, Tommy Hyde, I’ve victories over some and losses to others.”

“I wanted to go [pro] at 15, 16! But I was always told I was too young, that I’d have to go abroad to do it, that I hadn’t gotten any international experience with Ireland yet.”

“So, I got two Irish titles, I boxed six times for the country, I boxed at Senior level, I won the Munster Elite title where I stopped a man eight years older than me in 40 seconds. I’ve got that expereicene now.”

Also recently added to the stacked card is a rematch between Julio Cesar and Sean McGlinchy as well as a fight for Katelynn Phelan.

The Boxing Ireland bill is headlined by Eric Donovan v Cristian Montilla and also features a rematch between Julio Cesar and Sean McGlinchey, as well as slots for Dominic Donegan, Owen O’Neill, Senan Kelly, Aaron Gethins, James Lynch, Kelvin McDonald, Conor Cooke, John Joyce, Sam Carroll, Conor Doherty, and Tony McGlynn