Introducing: Brett McGinty

Brett McGinty is promising excitement at the very least as he becomes the latest amateur of note to join the pro ranks.

The Donegal/Derry fighter believes his mean and aggressive approach to the ring will prove what they call friendly in fan parlance.

Like almost every new to the pro game operator, the 21-year-old sees titles in his future. However, while he can’t promise world titles will be the end destination, he is pretty adamant there will be excitement throughout his journey.

“They [fans] can expect exciting fights. I feel I have a fan friendly style that fans will enjoy watching so hopefully I can show that in my performances,” he told Irish-boxing.com in his first interview as a pro before explaining why the decision to turn over now.

“The reason I turned over now is I felt it was the right time. I’ve been unlucky in the senior finals for a couple of years and came up just short, so I I’m ready now for a new challenge in the pro game and to give it everything.”

The European Schoolboys bronze and Commonwealth Youth silver medal winner has been flirting with the switch since the turn of the year and had a number of options.

He eventually decided to team up with LA based management company Sheer Sports.

Sheer look after the career of fellow Ulster men Jason Quigley as well the McKenna brothers, Aaron and Stevie, who were once amateur gym mates of McGinty.

The management company did come under fire with regard to their guidance of Quigley post his defeat to Tureano Johnson, particularly from Matthew Macklin.

However, McGinty claims once he meet with Ken Sheer he knew they were a perfect fit for him.

“I had a few options, but when I started talking with Ken [Sheer] and after my trip over to Manchester with Ricky [Hatton] I knew that I wanted to go with Sheer Sports. They have a very close knit team that cares about their fighters, so it was an easy decision.”

Not long after the Oakleaf Gym graduate confirmed he was turning over and working with Sheer, it was confirmed he would be training with Ricky Hatton.

McGinty revealed the link up was suggested by Ken Sheer and said they pair clicked in their week together.

“It was a suggestion from me to be based closer to home. Then Ken suggested going over to Ricky and see how things went over there because I think they worked together before. Me and Eugene [O’Kane] Jr went over for five days and I really enjoyed my time over there working with Ricky and his team and I think they felt the same.”

McGinty has always been noted for a having a pro style and Hatton, it seems, doesn’t think he will need much of an adaption period.

“I’ve only been working with him once, but he said my style is well suited to the pros and that some things will be changed here and there but the plan is to keep everything as familiar as possible.”

None of the Sheer’s current Irish fighters have fought at home yet – although with a stable of four it could now be an option.

McGinty certainly expects his early career to play out close to home if not at home.

“I’ll be fighting in the UK/Ireland to start with,” he confirms before discussing his goals.

“The short term goals are to get up and running hopefully with a few impressive performances. Then I want to start building my name. The long term goal of course is to be a champion. I think that’s the goal of any boxer turning pro. Every boxer hopes they reach the pinnacle of the sport and become world champion.”