“That’s the good thing about boxing” – Shaun McShane sparring old foe ahead of ring return

Donegal light welter Shaun McShane [4(0)-4(0)-1] returns to the ring this Friday night.

The Rosses 36 year old has not fought since his Scottish Title rematch loss to Eddie Doyle back in October, and makes his return on a Prospect Boxing card at The Knights of St Columba Social Club in Glasgow.

McShane features alongside Belfast boxers Alec Bazza and Matt Wilton, and fights in a four-round contest against a to-be-confirmed foe.

It’s been a longer than expected break for the Ulsterman who explained to Irish-Boxing.com how “I took time off because we had our first baby at the end of November.”

“I wasn’t suppose to have as long a spell out but, with Riley not being well for the first five months, I just had to put everything on hold for a while.”

“So I’ve been out eight months, but when I got the call from Paul [Graham] I decided to take the fight, to try and get back into it.”

“It’s been a very short camp, about 3 weeks! But I’ll be okay, my weight’s down and I’m feeling okay.”

2016 saw McShane challenge Eddie Doyle twice for the Scottish title, controversially losing by a point in March, before another scorecard defeat in October.

‘The Rocket’ is a refreshingly down-to-earth fighter, and admits that “I don’t have much of a plan to be honest.”

“I don’t look too far ahead because you just don’t know what can happen. I’ll get this fight over and I’d hope to be out in September again.”

The Doyle defeats wont mark any changes to McShane’s approach either, and the ultra-fit fighter jokes how “I haven’t had time!”

“All I can really do is sharpen up the way I fight, as they say, you can’t teach an old dog!”

One thing though that has been different about McShane’s preparations is that some of it was spent with former foe Doyle. For the Irishman, this respect is part of what makes boxing the sport it is.

McShane described how “I was sparring with Eddie, we’re mates now and never had any bad feeling.”

“We had two close encounters, but that’s the past now.”

“We help each other out, that’s the good thing about boxing, respect.”