Cork lightweight signs pro deal

A new fighter from the Rebel County is to enter the growing Irish pro scene.

Mayfield lightweight Dean O’Connell has made the decision to enter the pro ranks and has signed a management deal with Boxing Ireland Promotions.

The 23-year-old lightweight put pen to paper on a deal with the outfit behind the Celtic Clash series over the weekend.

A solid fighter with a pro style, O’Connell boxed out of the Mayfield club during his amateur days and will remain with coach Brian Conan in the paid game.

The Leesider comes from strong boxing stock, and is a cousin of last year’s National Elite Senior flyweight runner-up and upcoming bantamweight finalist Thomas McCarthy.

O’Connell joins fellow Corkonians Spike O’Sullivan, Noel Murphy, Colin O’Donovan, Vladimir Belujsky, and Mike Perez in the pros.

A debut date for O’Connell will be confirmed in the near future.