Perfect new pathway has Caoimhin Agyarko Hynes back in love with boxing
The Commonwealth Games begin this week and Caoimhin Agyarko Hynes won’t be at them.
The big tournament in Australia was the goal for the Belfast middleweight and, when this wasn’t achieved after being defeated by Steven Donnelly in the Ulster semis in November, Hynes looked sure to be moving to the pros.
Fast-forward a few months and Hynes now has an Elite Senior title under his belt, is just back from America where he wowed onlookers with two close fights with U.S. 81kg champion Khalil Coe, and tomorrow night will make his debut in the World Series of Boxing.
The Holy Trinity fighter has been snapped up by the Italia Thunder franchise and this morning weighed in for a fight with Clémente Hong Sik Kee of the French Fighting Roosters in Paris.
It’s been some turnaround for the 21-year-old puncher whose days in the amateur game had looked numbered.
“Erm… yes, I did lose love for the amateurs after the Ulster Elites,” Hynes admitted to Irish-Boxing.com.
“But I think winning the Irish title and seeing the opportunities I’m getting now is making me love the game again!”
The five-round, no vest, smaller-gloved format would look to be perfect for the big-hitting Hynes.
Oh it’s good to be back 😅sending people to sleep early since 96′.. good 1st round KO last night for ireland. @HTBC_Belfast @EddieHearn pic.twitter.com/DJtJSIBOzB
— Caoimhin Agyarko (@caoimhinhynes29) February 25, 2017
Hynes himself agrees and explained how “I think it would suit me better because it’s over five rounds I find I only start to get going half way through the second and third in the normal three rounds.
“I think it’s more of a pro style, slower pace, so hopefully all being well it’ll suit me better and I’ll get the job done.”
It’s been a mad few months for the young fighter who, on short notice and at a weight above his natural class, stormed to the Irish Elite light heavyweight title and was part of the team that toured the U.S. North East.
Now back at his preferred division of middleweight, Hynes is promising to look even better than he has over the past two months.
The boxer of Ghanaian descent noted how “at 81 I was sluggish and not sharp and although I could carry my power up to the weigh, I wasn’t sharp enough!”
French international Hong – who hails from the island of Reunion and won light heavyweight gold at the 2015 Indian Ocean Games – is the man that will face the sharper Hynes.
An unfamiliar enough foe, Hynes describes how “he’s a lot taller than me and I heard he hasn’t much international experience – but I’ve seen two clips of him KOing two opponents so I’d say he’s strong enough!”
“But no matter what he brings, I’ll get the job done Friday night.”
