“The first one is always the best” – Chris Blaney delighted following maiden title win

Chris Blaney [9(3)-0] claimed his first professional title on Saturday night with an extremely professional performance.

The Navan fighter won the BUI Celtic super middleweight title on the Red Corner Promotions ‘Champions Elect’ bill at the National Stadium in Dublin.

Blaney faced rugged Frenchman Matiouze Royer, but boxed clever against the messy Basque bruiser and claimed a 78-74 points win.

Afterwards ‘The Ginger Ninja’ was delighted with the win and his own display.

“It was unbelievable,” said Blaney.

“It’s always good to win a title but I think the first one is always the best.”

“I thought the fight went as me and the team planned, we knew he was always going to come forward so the game plan was to just box and move and don’t get caught by any stupid shots and it worked out well. ”

“I was very happy, so was Rick and Mike. I didn’t get hit that much so that’s always a bonus.”

The fight was Blaney’s first eight rounder, coming after three tough sixes over the past few months. Pro now just over a year, the Meath man dealt with the step up well.

Describing the uncharted seventh and eighth rounds, Blaney described how “I was okay, a small bit tired but nothing to worry about.”

“I think I paced myself well in the early rounds so I wouldn’t be too tired in the last two rounds.”

One of Ireland’s best progressed pro prospects, Blaney will take a well-earned break now ahead of a big 2018 and a move to middleweight (he weighed in at a career-lowest 161.5lbs for the fight with Royer).

Outlining his plans, Blaney stated that “that’s it for the year now I think.”

“I’m off for two weeks but I’ll still train, I’m away on holidays in November so I’ll probably be back fighting late January or early February hopefully.”

Photo Credit: Laszlo Geczo Photography