“It almost made me just give up” – Dan McShane sickened as revenge mission falls through

He has yet to officially end his two year ring sabbatical but Dan McShane [9(3)-1(1)] considered hanging the gloves up once again upon hearing bad news during the week.

The thought was a fleeting one, but the Belfast fighter honestly admits he felt let down by boxing again this week.

McShane, who previously became disillusioned with the sport before being persuaded while cutting Martin Rogan’s hair to return, was gutted that a chance to avenge his sole career defeat was taken from him.

The boxing barber was set to fight Zoltan Horvath on the inaugural Kieran Farrell Promotions card in Belfast next month and was more than excited with his chance to exact revenge.

However, a return on the A New Era‘ card set for the Devenish Complex on April 22 won’t happen after the Hungarian, who prevented McShane from going 10-0 after the Belfast fighter’s shoulder popped out in a 2015 fight, withdrew from their clash.

The now ‘Big Rogie’ trained fighter claims he did all he could to try and convince Horvath, known on these shores for fighting Joe Fitzpatrick, James Fryers, and Paul Hyland Jr, to fight, but to no avail.

“When I got the news I was fighting Zoltan I was buzzing. It give me the hunger back and that inner spark to train extra hard. It was set to be the perfect comeback, but yesterday morning I woke to a text message from Zoltans manager to say that he’s been back training but cant make the weight,” McShane explained to Irish-Boxing.com.

“I offered to fight him at any weight and offered him a serious amount of money just to take it. It was the kind of money that anyone on the planet would take for a four round fight, but he still said no. That’s him retired from boxing.

“So when I got that news I felt sick. It almost made me just give up. It’s been 9 weeks in training camp preparing for him and him only. I was planning on the fight ending very brutally on his behalf. I was down but I have woke up today and said to myself there is no point in beating myself up about it. That’s boxing and I’ll take it out on the new opponent.”

Who will replace Horvath on the Feargal McCrory-topped show that includes Ger Healy, Sean Magee, Sean McGlinchey, Mathew Fitzsimons, Joe Fitzpatrick and Joe Hillerby has yet to be confirmed.

However, McShane is expecting a tough test regardless.

“I’m not too sure who they are getting in at the moment, but what I do know is, it that it will be a tough test against someone who will be coming to win.”

After nearly two years completely away from the gym McShane admits getting fit was his primary concern up and until recent weeks. However, now he is fighting fit he can focus on boxing and claims he is developing a new style that will help him win ‘major titles’ over the coming 12 months.

“I’m not going to lie I put on a serious amount of weight in the two years that I was absent from boxing, so I spent most of the time on strict weight loss. Now that that’s out of the way I am sparring a lot and I am starting to execute my new and improved style of boxing.

“All the lads I am sparring are quality lads and they are lads that are training out of their skin so I feel as if I am going to be straight back in the mix come April 22nd. I can assure you that this year and next year is going to be huge. I will be going after some serious titles,” McShane added before taking time to thank those who have helped him.

“I would like to thank Gary, John, Ralph and Frankie because without these guys April 22nd wouldn’t be happening and best of luck to all the St. Paul’s boxers who are boxing in the All-Irelands in the next few weeks.”