On this week’s episode of The Sporting Life, Jordan Norris chats with Waterford welterweight boxer Dylan ‘The Real Deal’ Moran.
An amateur star, with Ballybeg and Kilmacthomas in his heart, Dylan has gone from sell-outs at Rainbow Hall to fights all over Europe, as well as Mexico and the US.
Having recently signed with legendary promoter Frank Warren, 2022 promises to be a massive year for the 27-year-old as he looks to add to his 16 professional wins.
It hasn’t all been plain sailing, from a sobering defeat at the hands of Dennis Okoth in America, to his promoter going bust in Liechtenstein and Covid derailments, but Moran has always done the same thing - re-evaluate, hit the gym and get back on the horse.
“A lot of the guys that I would have boxed with growing up have hung up the gloves, but the difference with me is that I never did. I stuck at it. That’s why I am where I am. A lot of the guys that I boxed with were just as good as me. I kept going back to the gym. I stuck with it. That’s the key to getting there.”
Dylan admits that his lowest moment in the ring, has probably served to be one of the better things to happen in his life.
“My whole world came crashing down for weeks after that defeat. You’re talking about a kid who is obsessed with boxing. Obsessed. Every day for years. Don’t know anything else. Lives and breathes for boxing. While other kids are off playing, they’re at parties and off with their girlfriends, I’m in the gym. It’s always been that way, it always will be that way. It’s still that way today. This show was unbelievable. I felt great, confident - I’m gonna win. I woke up in the doctors. My whole world came crashing down after that. When you come home and the buzz is over, people have their own lives to get on with. You’re left there dealing with it on your own, I was done with boxing, I was at war with the world. Then I said, no - this isn’t how it’s supposed to be. It’s not supposed to end like this.”
You can hear the full interview with Dylan Moran by clicking on the play button on the photo above.
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