Poddy McCrory surprised following professional debut

It wasn’t exactly what Pádraig McCrory [1(0)-0] was expecting, but the Belfast super middle was delighted to get the win in his professional debut on Saturday night.

The well-supported St James’s man made his paid bow on the ‘Belfast Boy’ Matchroom card at the SSE Odyssey Arena, outpointing Jacob Lucas over four rounds.

McCrory downed his journeyman opponent at the end of the first, but couldn’t get the exceedingly awkward stopper out of there.

A top amateur, it was all a bit of a shock to the system for McCrory who was part of a dreaded ‘swing bout.’

Nevertheless, the Ulsterman was happy to get the experience and predicted bigger things once he starts fighting more aggressive opposition.

Looking back at the win, the Immanuel Boxing Academy man told Irish-Boxing.com that “I was told be ready in four minutes, it was get ready and get in. Maybe it helped.”

“I caught him at the end of the first and he went down, but trying to get him to come out again was hard. He was very negative I feel like I would have liked to stop him, but I am just happy to get the win.”

“If I would put more pressure on the ref might have stopped it, but for me to get four rounds in my first fight will help me.”

“I think I will learn a lot from them four rounds. I never expected a fighter to be so negative. I am used to lads coming to win. I think you will see more of what I can do when people come at me. I am not boasting, but I punch hard, everyone tells me that.”

Outlining what’s ahead, McCrory hinted that there is another undercard slot on a big event in the near future.

The 28 year old stated that “I want to move on to bigger things. I will be fighting very very soon, maybe not a big fight, but on a big event.”

Coach and former pro Ray Ginley added that “this year we want to keep him busy and then have him contend for titles next year.”

“Poddy has been boxing since he was a kid. We know he can hold his own with any of them, but for now we want to help him learn his trade as a pro and then next year start to step it up.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

LISTEN: Gavan Casey and Joe O’Neill speak to Luke Keeler and Paddy Barnes on Episode 6 of The Irish Boxing Show: