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.