“I’m at Elite Level” – Adam Hession plans to take over Irish flyweight division

Everything is starting to click into place and Adam Hession believes he can become Ireland’s number one.

The Galway flyweight won the Irish Senior (Intermediate) title on Friday night and is confident that he is now at Elite level.

Hession defeated reigning U18 champ Terry Donoghue in a high-quality final at the National Stadium and views the win as both an important milestone and a stepping stone to success.

“That was very good for me, I’m delighted with that,” he told Irish-Boxing.com afterwards before noting his own recent progression.

“I always knew it was going to be a tough fight against Terry, he’s won almost everything that he could have won, all the way up.”

“I’d always had spars with him and they were always good, tough spars but I think now, the last few months, has been the first time I’ve been getting the better of him.”

Part of this progression has come with a weight change.

In the two under-18 Championships in Ireland this year, Hession was edged by World Youth bronze medallist Jude Gallagher and the growing Monivea teen admits that the change has been good for him.

Hession noted how “I was light flyweight and I was finding it hard to keep it so I’ve moved up to flyweight and I’m maturing well at flyweight. I’ve had a couple of close decisions and they drove me on to this today.”

His final versus Donoghue was not the first time Hession had boxed without a headguard, with the youngster explaining that a trip to Italy recently has him more confident than ever.

He described how “I boxed Federico Serra with Crumlin, a WSB boxer with the Italia Thunders. It was very tough but he went on to win gold at the EU Championships.”

“It just shows that I’m at Elite level – and so is Terry,” added Hession who will return to Sardinia this month for more sparring with Olympian Manuel Cappai.

It’s all preparation for the Elite Seniors in February and Hession is entering them with a genuine belief that he can win.

A talent-packed field – reigning champ Conor Quinn, multi major medallist Brendan Irvine, and all the light flyweights who are being forced to move up, will be Hession’s competition.

The Connacht starlet knows that he is young and has time on his side – but sees no reason why he can’t make a dent on the scene now.

“Of course [I will be entering the Elites], especially after a win like this, it’s definitely on the cards.”

“I’m young and I have a couple of years – but, Conor Quinn is young, Brendan Irvine is young, we’re all still young. I think it’s coming to my time now, I’m working my way up the ladder.”

“I know I definitely wasn’t on the radar but I think I’m rightly making a name for myself now – all the hard work is paying off.”