Rebuilt Taylor McGoldrick wants quick progression following comeback KO

Taylor McGoldrick finally returned to the ring on Friday night at the Ulster Hall but didn’t stay there long.

The Tyrone super middleweight knocked out Gianni Antoh in the first round in Belfast, a maiden stoppage, which sees him improve to 3(1)-0.

The result was hugely satisfied with the result having last fought in June, with a broken hand followed by corrective surgery (whichus d bone from his hip) keeping him out and stunting his progress.

However, McGoldrick looked better than ever in his bout on the Keeler-Cummings 2 undercard, coming in in great shape and destroying Antoh.

The Gerard McManus-trained puncher said that “I’m so glad to get this left hand going again.”

“The amount of pain I had to go through, getting that operation, I’m glad to be back.”

McGoldrick is back at full capacity but, having essentially been one-handed for nearly a year, has actually been improved by his rocky start.

“It was actually the right hook that finished the boy,” he noted

“I’ve been using my right so much that it’s nearly as good as my left! It’s a good thing. The first two [fights] I couldn’t hit with the left hand or spar or hit pads but now it’s back working. I’m so happy to get the stoppage.”

“I’m hitting fully now and that’s the difference. I couldn’t do much before but now it’s a big weapon.”

25 last month, a fully fit McGoldrick wants progression in 2019.

The Coalisland puncher is part of a mix that includes Padraig McCrory, Craig McCarthy, and Vladimir Belujsky among others and he wants title fights.

McGoldrick outlines how “this year I would like to have a six rounder next and then aiming towards [BUI] Celtic and Irish titles, that’s the goal for the end of year.”