Smithboro ABC’s first world champion

By David Keelaghan

"My first fight was stopped after 20 seconds, and at that stage I was advised to quit. I was told I would never make it; I didn’t listen to that, something in my head told me not to."

Shane Murphy’s introduction to the sport of boxing was a brutal one.

Having the referee intercede not long after the first bell isn’t the sparkling debut performance on which careers are normally launched.

And so it was put to him, maybe this isn’t for you.

Monaghan isn’t lacking in GAA or soccer pitches; rugby, swimming, athletics – there’s no shortage of choice for prospective sportsmen.

The sweet science of boxing is different - it takes a certain type of person to step into the ring, and despite comments to the contrary, Shane Murphy believed he was that type of person.

Having the right character is only step one; then there’s the hours and hours of training - sparring, running, weights, diet – boxing is a sport where half measures can get a person seriously hurt.

Luckily for Shane, the local amateur club offered a chance to receive the tutelage needed to prove the doubters wrong. Smithboro Amateur Boxing Club, the same place Barry McGuigan and Kevin McBride learned their trade, saw potential in the young light heavyweight.

Club coach Fergal McKenna saw determination in the eyes, a will to succeed and hunger to improve as a fighter.

His faith was well placed, and now Smithboro ABC has a world champion under its roof.

Just two years after that nightmare start in Clones, Shane Murphy became Ringside World Novice Champion in Kansas City USA last week.

The stage was grand one - the Ringside World Amateur Championships at the KCI Centre, which hosts 1,500 boxers from North and South America, Europe, Asia and beyond.

It is the biggest competition of its kind, and Shane travelled as part of a 20-strong Irish team with fellow Smithboro fighters Gary and Shane McKenna, as well as his brother Declan.

The Novice competition is open to those with 10 card fights or less; Shane had exactly that number, holding a record of six wins and four loses at 75kg.

For this tournament, he would compete at 81kgs for the first time, or 178lbs for our imperial favouring neighbours across the Atlantic.

The luck of the draw dictated a bye into the semi-finals, where Mexican fighter Gabrid Miramontes waited.

Shane picks up the story from here. "We put lot of work in beforehand so I was confident before the first fight. I had a chance to watch my opponent in his preliminary bout; he looked strong and I knew he would be dangerous, but I had a height and reach advantage, so using the jab and following up with my right would be very important. Fergal had a whole game-plan set out for the fight and thankfully it worked."

A unanimous decision followed for the Irish fighter, something that put Fergal McKenna’s mind at ease somewhat after a difficult few days for the Smithboro contingent.

Gary, Stephen and Declan had lost their fights after contentious decisions, so the prospect of the judges hindering Shane’s progress loomed large.

The Smithboro coach gives his recollection.

"I was really nervous before Shane’s fight because I felt the other three boys had been robbed. The results were scandalous really. Our club were new to the competition, so I thought that might have played a part. Each of the fights were 3-2 loses on scorecards, but I don’t think I’m being biased when I say we won each of those fights clearly. I told the lads to take their defeat on the chin and learn from it. You have to make it that more clear for the judges in the future, but it is tough against opposition of this calibre. The boxers they lost to went on to reach the final, so had the decisions went our way we could have been bringing four world champions back instead of one."

The judges ineptitude meant Smithboro’s chances rested solely on Shane’s shoulders as he stepped into the ring to face the Mexican. It was the biggest fight of his career so far, but nerves didn’t appear to be a problem, as Fergal McKenna explains.

"Shane is 6ft5, and with the extra muscle he put on in training, he could intimidate his opponents. He played that part well. Normally the boxers might give a friendly gesture to each other before the fight, but there was none of that from him. He was all business and it obviously worked cause he won every round."

Standing across the ring for the final was Puerto Rican boxer Jonny Vargas – a fighter the Irish coaches took a keen interest in beforehand.

"I watched Varags doing pad work, so I knew he was a hooker with a tremendous left. I told Shane to keep his hands high and make sure he wasn’t caught by the left. Vargas was shorter, but very well developed, so Shane used his jab to great effect to keep him on the outside. When Vargas managed to break down that defence, Shane was more than a match strength wise, and was able to unload a few big shots. Our tactic was to use a left–right combination throughout, and that worked a treat, by the third round I thought it might have been stopped. Shane was getting better with each round, it was the best I’ve ever seen him fight."

The individual throwing the punches was similarly pleased.

"It was a tougher fight than the semi-final and would have been that bit closer on the score-cards. I thought at the time I had won every round, but it wasn’t an easy fight. The other boys had lost close decisions after boxing well, so that was on my mind. Just because you win the fight in the ring doesn’t always mean you win the fight when the decision comes in. I was happy with my performance though – win or lose."

When the judges scorecard came in, said performance deemed the former, as Shane became Smithboro ABC’s first ever amateur world champion.

It was a proud moment for everyone concerned, especially Fergal McKenna.

"This is the first time anyone from the club has won a world amateur title. Considering the likes of Barry McGuigan and Kevin McBride went before him, it’s a tremendous achievement for Shane."

Standing in the middle of the ring at the KCI Centre wearing both the green of Ireland and the world title belt, that 20 second stoppage in Clones must have felt a lifetime ago; it is not something Shane Murphy has easily forgotten, however.

Quite the opposite in fact, as that crushing disappointment gave all the motivation he needed to succeed in this most brutal of disciplines.

He has not done it alone; something the young fighter is only too ready to admit.

"There were plenty of doubters back then, but Fergal urged me to stick with it. I probably would have quit had it not been for him, so I have to thank him; I never would have won this title without the help I received at Smithboro Boxing Club."

As for the future. "The Ulster Intermediate Novices and Ulster Intermediates are in October at the Dockers club in Belfast. If I do well there then the Irish Championships in Dublin are in November. I fought at 81kgs in America and I’ll be staying at that weight for my next fights. Before I was 75kg, but I’m happy at the new weight – I feel stronger and my boxing has improved. I intend to keep working hard at training and listening to Fergal, if I do that, then anything can happen."

Confidence in one’s own ability is not so much an advantage in boxing, but an absolute necessity. Shane Murphy doesn’t appear lacking in this regard, and with the coaches at Smithboro ABC right behind him, titles could be a common feature at the club’s gym in the months and years ahead. Fergal McKenna concludes with some insight as to what separates victory and defeat inside those ropes.

"His first fight didn’t go well for him but he’s worked really hard since. I used to watch him in training and he would spend an hour and a half on the bag. He has great staying power, and has turned the whole thing around over the past year. He had the most mental focus of any of the lads over in America. I told him before the first fight to prove to the doubters that he could do it, and he did."

April 2009 show

Smithboro ABC celebrates knock-out night of boxing

By David Keelaghan

It was fight night in Threemilehouse on Saturday past as Smithboro ABC held its first tournament of 2009. Over 450 people were in attendance at McDermott Park as boxers from a number of clubs faced off against the best of Smithboro ABC talent.

In all there were 18 bouts held on the night, as patrons were treated to over four hours of solid amateur boxing.

Aside from the great action in the ring, the entrances of the boxers added an extra lustre to the event and made for a great night’s entertainment.

All the fighters were greeted warmly to the ring by those in attendance, but it’s without doubt the atmosphere reached its zenith for the contests of Threemilehouse fighters Christopher Hughes, and brothers Declan and Shane Murphy.

The 78kg meeting of Christopher Hughes and Thomas Logue from Oakleaf ABC had been scheduled for the main event slot and last fight of the night; instead the bout went on midway through the event, while maintaining its big fight atmosphere.

Backed by a vocal, highly partisan Threemilehouse crowd, Hughes entered the ring in confident mood. His opponent had every intention of spoiling the party, however, as he showed when he caught Hughes with a good left hand early in the first round. The two boxers then exchanged punches in the first round with Hughes able to take advantage of the Derry fighter’s low guard and land some good offence.

The second round began with Logue landing a brutal left uppercut that put Hughes to one knee; the Threemilehouse man recovered quickly, however, and came back strong in the remainder of the round. The two fighters were both landing some good shots at this stage, with Hughes shading the fight in terms of amount of clean punches landed. The Derry boxer’s power was still a factor, as he tried to use the same left uppercut that hurt Hughes earlier in the round. Hughes finished round two on top after landing some stinging body punches.

It was all up for grabs heading into the final round but Christopher Hughes suffered an immediate set-back when a jab from Logue landed cleanly and bloodied the Smithboro fighter’s nose. Again he used that setback as a platform to come back stronger and with his opponent visibly tiring, Hughes was able to dominate the latter stages of the round. The bell sounded and it appeared that Hughes’ late flurry was enough to take the decision, but the judges thought otherwise and awarded the fight to Thomas Logue. It was a somewhat surprising decision, and given the fact Hughes was later awarded Senior Boxer of the night by the referee, one that looked incorrect.

Threemilehouse native Declan Murphy would have more luck in his bout against John Sweeney of Kiltimagh at 60kg. The Smithboro fighter was returning to the ring for the first time after breaking his hand in January, and showed just why he is considered one of the club’s top prospects with a commanding performance against his Mayo opponent.

Utilising a dangerous left hand, Murphy was able to cut off the ring and isolate his opponent for most of this fight. The first round ended with Sweeney in dangerous territory – backed into the corner as Murphy landed a flurry of punches. The bell came just in time for the Connacht fighter, but round two would follow a familiar pattern as Murphy continued to dominate. A number of hard body shots caused obvious distress to Sweeney, as Murphy continued his blistering offence. Round three was more of the same, and a great deal of credit must go to Sweeney, who battled gamely until the fight’s end. The judges’ unanimous decision was mere formality in what was a hugely impressive showing from Declan Murphy.

Declan’s brother Shane would find things much more difficult in the next fight of the evening against Vitailly of Castleblayney ABC at 73kg. The Threemilehouse boxer held a reach and height advantage over his opponent, but the Blayney competitor showed great power with his punches and took the first two rounds. Round three was much more even, but in the end Murphy couldn’t do enough to prevent a unanimous points decision for Vitailly.

It was a mixed bag for Smithboro ABC as far as the results went with a balanced amount of wins and loses. The night began with Aaron McKenna winning the decision to Derrylin’s Hanlon Crowley in a majority decision at 31kg.

Adrian Cawley followed up next for the club, but he was unsuccessful in his efforts too, with Conor Martin of Banbridge taking a unanimous decision at 39kg.

Gary McKenna brought home the club’s first victory of the night in his 42kg bout with Glenn Haire of Banbridge ABC. The Smithboro boxer was very impressive in the fight, displaying great footwork and killer combination work. Picking out some great punches throughout, he easily took the three rounds and with that the unanimous decision. It was a great performance from the young fighter - one that garnered an award of Junior Boxer of the night. That accolade saw him receive the Michael Carey Perpetual Shield – named after a young fighter from the club who passed away some years back.

Gary’s brother Stephen also tasted victory in his bout with Michael O’Neill from Cootehill ABC at 33kg. The Smithboro boxer took the first two rounds in comprehensive fashion but a great left hand from O’Neill at the beginning of the third shook McKenna, who received a standing eight count. The young fighter responded well from there on in and landed some good shots in the remainder of the round to take a unanimous decision.

In other action from the night, Smithboro ABC’s Aaron McCann lost a unanimous decision to Raymond Rogan of Oakleaf ABC at 52kg. After two close rounds, McCann came into his own in the third and looked to have shaded the decision. The judges felt otherwise and awarded the fight to the Derry boxer, but the Smithboro competitor can take solace from the level of his performance.

Smithboro 57kg boxer Ryan Treanor came through a tough bout with Coleman Corrigan of Derrylin to take a unanimous decision victory.

The club was also tasted victory in Conor Mallon’s bout with Sean Murphy of Bonoe at 60kg. In a close contest, the Smithboro boxer showed enough in his offence to receive a unanimous decision from the judges.

Also competing for Smithboro ABC in Threemilehouse were brothers Hugh and Phil from the famous Furey fighting family. Hugh competed in an exhibition bout against Adam Cullen from Cavan at 60kg, before Phil met Domnic Harkin of Dromore at 66kg later in the evening. With a switch to the professional ranks just around the corner for the young fighter, Phil Furey’s meeting with Harkin represented a perfect tune-up fight. Showing brilliant aggression throughout the contest, Furey had his opponent in trouble on a number of occasions. After inflicting two standing eight counts on Harkin, Furey then received a unanimous decision from the judges.

The only stoppage of the night came a fight earlier as Castleblayney ABC’s Damien Ward faced Darren Kilcoin of Kiltimagh ABC at 69kg. After a real hard hitting first round, The Mayo fighter connected with a great left to the nose of Ward. The Blayney boxer suffered a deep cut that eventually forced the referee to stop the fight in the second round.

After fours hours of boxing, the last fight of the night saw heavyweight action as Castleblayney’s Colm Caulfield challenged Cavan’s Pat McCann. Caulfield was knocked to the ground in the first round after a viscous left hand from McCann. The Blayney fighter recovered well from that blow and the rest of the contest was even enough until a late salvo from the Cavan fighter won him a unanimous decision.

So brought an end to another successful event for Smithboro ABC. Speaking to the Northern Standard following the tournament, club coach Fergal McKenna thanked the local Threemilehouse community for their support. Also receiving special thanks were the Complex Committee for their provision of the venue, as well as compere on the night Joe Sherry and Des Murphy who provided the music.

Next up for the club is an upcoming tournament in Portmarnock, Co Dublin in two weeks time with five fighters (Gary and Stephen McKenna, Declan and Shane Murphy, and Aaron McCann) expected to compete on the night. Report from those fights will be in the subsequent edition of the Northern Standard.