Nathan May Day – Lightweight Champion scratches Seven-Year Itch

It was May day in the National Stadium for the first time in a long time last Saturday.

Nathan May proved he’s still got it by picking up the National Senior lightweight title at the home of Irish boxing.

The former underage standout was one of the stories of the tournament, coming through the most populated field to top the podium in his first tournament in over seven years.

The three-time underage Irish champion fell out of love with the sport in his late teens, and before this month he hadn’t been seen in the ring since he suffered defeat to now pro prospect, James McGivern in the 2016 youth final.

The Dublin Dockland’s talent returned to the gym in the Summer and wasn’t long about proving his potential, eventually being crowned Irish champion after a final victory over Ben McHugh.

“It’s good to be back! I won three underage all Ireland titles and was beaten in four finals, so it’s good to get another one,” said before expanding on the tale of his victory.

“I got beat in the U18 final and then I just started to fall out of love with it.

“I came back three months ago and ended up going hell for leather. I got stuck into training, I was getting fit and I looked alright in sparring, so we just said we’d jump into [the Senior Championships].”

It’s not a case of comeback complete for the 23-year-old. The Dublin boxer, who has shared the underage ring with some of Ireland’s most exciting pro prospects, including Paddy Donovan, McGivern and Aaron McKenna, could be fighting for a fifth amateur title very soon.

May is weighing up his National Elite options and may enter the November installment of the premier amateur competition. If the lightweight does enter, he fancies his chances to do well.

“We haven’t decided yet, we’ll have a talk about it,” he responds when asked about the Elites.

“I’d say I could put it up to any of them, it’s all on the day really,” he adds before stating there remains room for improvement.

“I was rusty at the start, but I got a stoppage in the semi-final and I felt good again in the final. I’m not back to [peak form’ yet. I’m only back three months. If I was back a year you’d see some difference in me.”