Not so fab – Rohan Daté reveals FOUR Irish welters have turned down a fight

Rohan Date [6(5)-0-1] claims four Irish welterweights have turned down the chance to fight him for the Irish title.

The unbeaten Waterford native returns to the ring on Saturday December 15th at the York Hall on British Warriors Boxing’s ‘Christmas Carnage’ show and is keen to be involved in an Irish title fight afterwards.

The power punching British-based fighter was hoping to challenge for the BUI’s green strap when he returns home in February but notes how has not obtained eligibility as early as he had planned.

Regardless, though, he notes how four unnamed fighters turned a potential clash down.

“I’m living in London for now, my next fight after December will be in February in Ireland then I’ll be back in London for March time looking to fight again,” he stated before explaining his position in relation to the Irish title.

“I was hoping to fight in February for the Irish or BUI title back in my home town in Waterford in Ireland, but I need to get eight rounds in to be eligible [for the Irish title]. But it’s a packed card on December 15 so I’ll just be in a six rounder.”

“I want to fight for the BUI or Irish title next, four boxers been offered it and all said no. I’ll be fighting in championships at light welter but I want to get a title at welterweight first of all.”

“You need eight rounds to be eligible so trying to I’m put myself in a position for titles now.”

The welterweight division is one of Ireland’s most exciting and stacked, making it hard to predict the four the 25-year-old is hinting at.

Jay Byrne has always been Irish title keen while Keane McMahon is hoping to move to BUI Celtic level as soon as possible. Lewis Crocker has a BBBofC Celtic title fight on December 7th and is going the British title route, while John Joyce has a European plan. Then there is the likes of Francy Luzoho and Tony Nellins but both need to perhaps progress up through the rounds themselves first.

Most interestingly, there has been discussion of an all-Waterford Dylan Moran bout – with some tasty talk earlier this month – but that looks like one for the future.

It might not be in an Irish title fight but Daté does claim he will return home for his first fight in 2019 and having acquired a taste for knock outs may just be planning a power-punching performance.

“Yeah, it has turned out that way. If I’m fighting someone and I don’t like them then that’s the end of it.”

“I’ll be friends after but before the fight, we are not friends. That’s my mentality going into a fight. I’m not happy unless I get a knockout.”

“When I first came over to London last May, I went to a few shows and saw lads hitting lads but not putting them out. I’ve learnt now to pace it, at first I was looking to blast people out in the first round but now I like to pace myself so I’ve got power for the later rounds.”

“In the amateurs, I tried to be skillful and use my technique and the power will come but now I’m pro I’m starting to see how it works for me, now I’m not leaving it to the cards, I’m taking them out!”