The countdown is on to Rhys Moran's first bout as a professional.
The Waterford super-middleweight will step into the ring on February 1st on the big 'Celtic Clash 10' bill in the Devenish Hall in Belfast.
The St Paul's graduate says he "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 experience now."
"It's hard to train all year, fights are infrequent, and that happens. As an amateur, you train just as hard as a pro, twice a day, and at the end of it you don't get paid and you don't get the decision. You're at the drawing board and you're thinking 'what's next?' Do I want to come up here again and box knowing that it's a 50-50 chance I get the decision even though I know I beat him?"
The 21-year-old will stand taller than most in the division:
"I was fighting light heavyweight [81kg] as an amateur but it's my plan to move to super middleweight [76kg]. I'm a tall southpaw, I stand at 6'4", and I'm physically and naturally strong. I think the pro-style will suit me, I never really liked the amateur scene, the tip-tap and move style. I like to get involved, do a bit of damage."
