Egan: Only one who can beat me is myself

KENNETH EGAN began his quest for an unprecedented 11th successive national senior title at the National Stadium last night with a second-round stoppage of Thomas Roohan (Ballincarrow, Sligo) and a claim that the only man who can beat him is himself.

The Olympic silver medallist was leading 10-1 and referee Paul McMahon had administered two standing counts when former champion Alan Reynolds in Rooham’s corner threw in the towel.

“A win’s a win in my books,” Egan said. “I boxed well, didn’t know him, never met him before. I watched him box last week for the first time so I knew he was basic enough. I made him miss and I punished him. I caught him with some really good shots in the first. I didn’t really waste much and when I hit him, I was hurting him with the body shots. The right hook body crippled him near the end. They were right to throw in the towel.

“Every title means a lot. The Olympics are over with, my silver medal is tucked away in a drawer and it’s history now. I was just focused on this fight. Next week, I’ll be focused on the final.

“This is the start of Olympic qualification — like the build-up four years ago when we went out to Chicago for the world championships. This qualifier (world championships) is a little bit special because ten out of my weight will qualify, so it gives you a great chance.

“I just have to keep winning my bouts and keep performing at the top level. I’m going back to Miami in March and I’ll be busy over there. I’m in the best shape of my life. I’m on the straight and narrow, my head’s right and I’m flying. The only person who is going to beat me is myself.”

He added: “I’m not happy with the boxing out there tonight and a lot of boxers agree with me. This kind of crap, peek-a-boo boxing, it’s ruining the game. If I was coming in, there is no way I’d pay €20 to watch that. It’s not boxing. When we’re in High Performance, we are learning different combinations and different movements. We don’t walk in with our hands held up — this peek-a-boo crack. It’s a smart way to win a fight but it’s killing amateur boxing.”

Con Sheehan (Clonmel) was at his brilliant best again as he kept on track for his fourth heavyweight title with an emphatic13-0 victory over Stephen Ward (Monkstown, Antrim).

Darren O’Neill came off a slow start to win his semi-final against Conrad Cummings (Holy Trinity) 4-3 in his bid for his third middleweight title.

Cummings took an early lead but O’Neill came back with big shots to tie the round and when Cummings led again in the second round, O’Neill responded with a big right hook to tie it again at 2-2, eventually holding on for a comfortable win.

“I was a point or two down purely through bad scoring because I was landing punches — creasing him with body shots and no scores — but he worked hard and he had his game plan right,” O’Neill said. “I brought back the scores and I was the one on top at the end of the fight.”

John Joe Nevin (Cavan) put his last display behind him with a brilliant semi-final victory over last year’s beaten finalist, Derek Thorpe (St. Aidans), in a one-sided bantamweight clash.

Nevin had to come from behind in the last five seconds to snatch the victory over the Wexford man last year but this time the issue was never in doubt.

“I’m very happy with that,” he said afterwards. “I’m back to myself and boxing my best. Last week was a bit of a wake up call for me. I only beat Derek Thorpe 7-5 last year and won the fight in the last five seconds so I knew going in what I had to do. I knew he’d be confident going in against me.

“My jab was good; I felt my footwork was brilliant. I kept my jab in his face and every time he made a mistake, I punished him. My hand speed was good.

“I’m the champion and going for four on the trot. It will be a good lad who will beat me this year. I just have to keep that sharpness going into the final.”

Champions continued to exit the competition, however. European bronze medallist Eric Donovan (St. Michael’s, Athy) was going for his third lightweight title in a row when he lost to Michael McDonagh (St. Mary’s) 3-2 on countback after the computer tied it 1-1, while John Joe Joyce (St. Michael’s Athy), a European bronze medallist three years ago, has lost his welterweight crown after losing to Dubliner Karl Brabazon (St. Saviours OBA). Flyweight champion Gary Molloy (Moate) was also beaten 10-5 by Michael Conlon (St. John Bosco).