Catherine continues Blaney boxing dynasty
From the Magees to the Conlans, Irish boxing is full of fighting families.
In Navan there are the Blaneys – pro middleweight prospect Chris who trains under Ricky Hatton, Irish U22 featherweight champ Shauna, and youngest sister Catherine who won the Irish U18 bantamweight title on Friday night.
Like any family, there is a friendly sibling rivalry and when Irish-Boxing.com asked Blaney, who had just won her seventh title, which sister was in the lead, she was certain.
“It’s a draw now,” said Catherine only for Shauna to be heard shouting in the background.
“No it’s not!”
“It is! We both have seven! She’s wrong,” replied Catherine as the pair laughed.
Blaney had just beaten Baldoyle’s Megan Coleman at the National Stadium, putting in a strong performance, boxing from range well, and using her size advantage to good effect.
Beaten in the Irish Open at the start of the year, a move up in weight has seen the Meath teens performance’s improve.
Blaney explained how “I was 51kg in January, then I went to 52kg for the [Junior] all-Ireland’s in May and now I’m at 54kg.”
“I’m strong at 54kg, that’s how I’ve felt over the last three fights.”
En-route to the final, Blaney had overcame Mary Kate Nevin and Orinta Ringyte – who had defeated her back in January.
“It was three hard fights,” she admitted.
A bronze medallist at last year’s European Juniors, the talented Blaney is still only 16 years of age and will still be a Youth-level boxer next year.
The goal for the rest of the year is to simply keep improving, and Blaney outlined how “I’ll take a break for a week or two and then I’ll be back training for whatever’s next, whatever championships or tournaments there are!”
Photo Credit: National Stadium Boxing Videos
