Rio 2016 and Irish title no.11 not retirement in Egan sights

By Jonny Stapleton

Kenny Egan knows a thing or two about getting up of the canvas both in life and in boxing and he is determined to continue his legendary amateur boxing career despite his loss to teenage sensation Joe Ward last Friday night.

The ten time Irish champion refuted claims he will retire or look to go pro and has set his sites on winning an eleventh national senior title and possible spot in Rio 2016.

The Beijing 2008 silver medallist, who has been in huge media demand this week and continues to raise the profile of the sport, claims amateur boxing is his life and he is keen to stay involved for as long as he can.

“I have heard over the last few days people are asking if I will go pro now that I have nothing to hang around for. The time for that would have been Beijing when I had offers. Amateur boxing is my life. When I got home I had a good think to myself. I thought, ‘its over now-what next?’ But I am not going to retire. I am still fairly young. I am in a good place. I still have a few good performances left in me,” Egan told RTE’s the Daily Show.

 

Egan did perform well up and until he faced the Moat Mangler in last weeks light heavyweight final and despite admitting Ward was too strong for him believes he has what it takes to return to the winners podium again. Indeed the Irish amateur legend is not ruling out another Olympics.

“I will be 34 when the next Olympics comes around in Rio. I will be still eligible- so who knows. I am looking after my body so anything can happen. I would also like to win my eleventh national title. After the 2008 Olympics I had my ups and downs, but I that fire burning in me again to get to London, but it didn’t happen this time. I will be training away in case anything happens, but I hope it doesn’t because he deserves to go.”

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