Professional Aiden Metcalfe can breathe easy ahead of comeback clash

Aiden Metcalfe [1(0)-0] is back and finally firing on all cylinders.

The Crumlin super featherweight has not fought in almost ten months since debuting last September and returns this Saturday [July 14th] on the ‘Celtic Clash 6’ card at the Good Counsel GAA Club in Drimnagh.

It’s been a long time out but with good reason. A nose injury carried into his debut required surgery and a long lay-off to repair.

With this in mind, it looks likely that we a much different Aiden Metcalfe than the one who debuted last year.

Back then, at the National Stadium, a below-par Metcalfe just about got past Poland’s Damian Lawniczak in a thrilling fight where he needed a strong finish to secure a one-point win.

Looking back, he described how “I needed a big last round to win the debut and I did – but that wasn’t me, I don’t really box like that.”

“I’m a boxer not a toe-to-toe fella. If I have to fight, I’ll fight, but I’d rather hit and not get hit.”

“My nose was a setback. It’s better now, I can feel it when I’m in sparring, I can control my breathing.”

“You can see the difference when I’m in the ring, I’m much more composed. Everyone is saying they can see the difference in me.”

The show was initially due to take place last month but was postponed to July 14th due to a number of injuries to other fighters on the bill. This suited the recovering Metcalfe who has also made some other changes ahead of his comeback.

The prospect outlined how “the extra time was good for me. It allowed me to get more fit, more sharp – you can see it in the sparring, I’m much sharper now.”

“This training camp has been completely different to the last [debut] one. I’m training in the morning and the afternoon, I’m eating properly, I’m living the life basically.”

“I’m living the life out of the gym, I’m not acting the bollocks, going out at the weekends drinking. I’m living the life of a pro which is what you have to do.”

On Saturday he returns against another Polish boxer – veteran Krzysztof Rogowski. A rough, tough, and dangerous foe, the Eastern European is a regular visitor to these shores and has faced a number of Irish boxers – even beating world champion Carl Frampton when they were both amateurs and recently being in a fan-friendly war with Kildare’s Allan Phelan.

It’s a test for Metcalfe – a surprisingly tough one considering his the time out – but it is a test the ambitious boxer is keen to take.

The Dubliner, younger brother of Elite bantamweight champion Evan, noted how “I’m not going in with an easy fight but, at the same time, I want to put this fella away and move on.”

“I’ll be a lot better than my debut. I want to push on now, push on with this fight and then fight some Irish people and on the road.”

“This year will be, hopefully, much bigger than last year.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)