Egan faces decision on future amid pro offers

OLYMPIC silver medallist Kenneth Egan last night revealed he has received offers to join the professional boxing ranks since his heroics in Beijing.

However the Dubliner has yet to make a decision on his future and insists his “heart is in amateur boxing”.

Egan, who returned to training last night said: “It has been my whole life since I was a kid. I just love to put on those gloves to train — training is what it is all about, because boxing is the easy side of it, at the end of the day.

“I have had approaches and interest from the professional side of the sport since I came home from Beijing. But I would like to think I still have a future at amateur level because that’s where my heart is.

“I had a meeting with the Sports Council when I came back from Beijing and we discussed various things but it was way too early to make any hard and fast decisions.

“I think if I was to remain on in High Performance I would be able to pick and choose my fights. I won’t be in a position to box in the European Championships in November because I have been off for two and a half weeks and I would not have time to get ready. But I would see myself boxing in the world championships next year.”

He is still coming to grips with life as an Olympic medalist three and a half weeks after his heroics in the Workers Gymnasium in the Chinese capital.

“It has been madness since I came back from Beijing. Everyone wants a slice of the action and while it is doing my head in at times, I must admit I am enjoying every minute. You dream about winning an Olympic medal but nothing can prepare you for when it happens. People want me for openings and things like that. I have got very posh!

“I have my own agent, Liam Gaskin, now. It makes things that bit easier. I have been continuously on the phone since I arrived back from Beijing.”

The ISC’s Performance Manager, Corkman Finbarr Kirwan, is keen to keep Egan in the amateur mix, up to and beyond 2012.

“He has been such an important part of the High Performance group for the past five years, of course we would want to keep him on,” said Kirwan.

“Not alone do we feel he can win a medal again in London but he has been outstanding leader and a great team captain and with young boxers like Johnny Joyce, John Joe Nevin, David Oliver Joyce, Roy Sheahan all capable of winning Olympic medals in 2012, I would feel his leadership would be very important. He has the respect of all the boxers and has been an inspiration in the past.”

Egan will discuss his future plans with Gary Keegan who, as Director of High Performance the five years, has been his mentor and confidante.

“Gary is away on holidays in the US at the moment and I want to talk to him when he returns to Ireland,” he said.

“We will never forget what Gary did for us over the past five years. In Beijing it was the five boxers and the two coaches, with Gary on the outside looking in. My heart went out to him every day because he should have been in there with us.”