Coach backing “dark horse” Kevin Sheehy to cause a shock at World Championships
The big man of the Irish team for this week’s World Youth Championships in Russia is Kevin Sheehy.
The Limerick super heavyweight is something of a gentle giant outside the ring, but once he steps through the ropes he becomes a relentless animal of a fighter.
A newcomer to the Irish set-up, the St Francis’s boxer has quickly settled into international level, and those in the know are backing the fearless Shannonsider to pull off a shock or two at the tournament this week
Sheehy’s club coach at St Francis’s is Ken Moore, and he is confident in his man’s ability to spring a few surprises in St Petersburg.
Moore told Irish-Boxing.com that “Kevin is in my eyes a dark horse for this championship. He would be one of the least experienced on the team – in fact he will be making his international debut in the World Championships – but he is in awe of nobody.”
“He has already sparred the World number one at his weight in Russia and by all accounts more than held his own with him. If you are looking for a live outsider, Kevin is your man.”
Sheehy is only a newcomer to Moore’s club, but the highly respected coach already sees parallels between the teenager and the club’s most famous graduate.
He described how “Kevin came to us eighteen months ago, he had been in OLOL for a year and half previously and was planning on packing in the game altogether. A very shy, polite young man, we spent the first six months together getting to know each other and changing his style to better suit his physical attributes of speed and athleticism for a big lad.”
“Andy Lee was our last boxer in the World Youths and Kevin is similar in that his attention to detail and work ethic is fantastic. He is a pleasure to train.”
