Allan Phelan eager to show improvements following “kick in the arse” defeat

Back in June Allan Phelan [8(5)-3(1)-1] fell to his first defeat since returning to Ireland.

While the Kildare featherweight had seen opponent’s arms raised before, his previous losses had been due to a recurring shoulder injury early in his career whilst based in America.

At the National Stadium during the Summer though he was edged out after a close contest with Manchester’s Jamie Quinn.

While distraught on the night, Phelan has rebounded well and is in high spirits ahead of his return to the ring tomorrow night.

The Newbridge puncher is back at the National Stadium on another Red Corner Promotions card, ‘Building Champions,’ and is eager to put things right when he takes on tough Pole Krzysztof Rogowski [10(5)-21(11)].

Phelan explained to Irish-Boxing.com that “I wanted to get back in straight away.”

“I thought I did enough to win that fight [v Quinn] but, obviously, at the wrong weight and everything, it didn’t go to plan on the night.”

“It was a bit of everything really, there’s no point pin-pointing something, stuff went wrong, it was just a bad night – but everyone has bad night, we don’t like them, but they happen. It’s about how you come back from them.”

“I’m looking forward to getting back in.”

Phelan has spoken of becoming a ‘proper’ professional since the loss and he notes how “I’ve changed everything.”

“I’m training harder. I was doing strength and conditions when I was in America, and I was doing a bit when I got back here but not at 100%.”

“I was giving it my all, but I’ve increased it now, I’ve upped my game ten times more now. I’m eating a lot cleaner, better, putting my heart and soul into everything.”

“I’ve worked harder this time, more on what I’m supposed to do and using my mentality properly.”

Often after a surprise loss a fighter will look to ‘set the record straight,’ however Phelan doesn’t see it this way.

The lilywhite though is almost in a way thankful for the defeat against a larger opponent and reasoned that “sometimes when you’re training you can get bored of it and you kind of need a little kick in the arse to get you back where you belong.”

“Forget about him, it’s in the past. It’s not like I’m going to fight him again, he won’t be coming down to this weight, my proper weight.”

“I just need to get back in and do what I have to do, look ten times better than I did before, and show people that why I’m here.”

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