Boxing Belle

15 August 2010 – Steve Wellings

Christina McMahon turned professional on DolPhil Promotions August 7 show and the likeable personal trainer from Carrickmacross impressed the crowd in her debut victory over Ineta Lieknina. Speaking post-fight the fledgling super-bantamweight was pleased, yet critical, of her overall performance.

Im happy with my first professional fight but its also nice to see whats ahead of me, she admitted.

I would like to get fitter and must generally improve because I cannot afford to stay at the standard you saw tonight. It was the first stepping stone to where I want to be and it gives me more hunger to go back and train harder because I want to become quicker and stronger.

Now she has tasted professional boxing the lady who travelled over to Belgrade to win a world kickboxing championship in 2007 wants to stay active and brush up on her skills.

I want to fight again as soon as possible, Christina confirmed, keep them rolling! In fact, every few months would be great. I have changed my style recently and that was the first time I got to try it out [versus Lieknina] and theres no doubt about it, I like the Phil Sutcliffe way of fighting.

Turning southpaw is something Ive always done, I dont know whether its a good or bad habit but it worked tonight.

It worked well as McMahon was able to dominate centre ring and push her opponent back with spiteful combinations, although admittedly Lieknina offered little in the way of return fire.

I wasnt necessarily looking for the knockout, I went for good boxing, scoring with my punches and throwing the shots as I saw them, picking the punches without wasting much. The atmosphere at home would be quite the same as tonight but when I go kickboxing I fight for Ireland and often travel away from home. I have a lot of family and I sold plenty of tickets for tonight, she added.

Id like to climb the ladder in the pro game and get as many fights under my belt and prove to my new team at Crumlin that I can box and I have faith in their coaching and they trust in me.

The leisure centre manager did not envisage herself becoming a champion at kickboxing and will approach her boxing career with the same philosophy of hard work and a bit of luck.

Honestly, when I started kickboxing I didnt see myself as a world champion in the making; I just took every step at a time and moved up the levels one point at a time.

I enjoyed the experience and Im delighted for the crowd and my team who took me on and put in a lot of work, McMahon concluded.