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Sheer delight – Top Ulster prospect turns over with American management company

In a long-mooted move – and one which seems to fit perfectly – Brett McGinty has turned professional.

21 earlier this month, the Donegal/Derry middleweight makes the move and links up with L.A.-based management outfit Sheer Sports.

McGinty had hinted at a switch earlier this year and was known to be training in Manchester under Ricky Hatton during the summer  and has now joined LA based boxing management team Sheer Sports.

McGinty has been in the States for the past few weeks visiting gyms – and tonight it emerged their was another propose for his visit, as he signed pro terms with Sheer and is now officially a pro.

A successful amateur, McGinty won European Schoolboys bronze, Commonwealth Youth silver, and captained Ireland at the 2016 World Youth Championships.

As a Senior, the Ulster youngster is a two-time Ulster runner-up and twice Irish Elite runner-up.

A long-time amateur welterweight [69kg/152lbs], McGinty moved to middleweight [75kg/165lbs] in 2017 and is expected to fight as a middleweight [72.5kg/160lbs] in the pros.

Born in Derry and trained out of the Oakleaf Gym in the city, McGinty has lived his life in the Donegal village of St Johnston.

Sheer Sports Management, run by Lyle Green and Ken Sheer, look after the careers of three other Irish fighters – another Donegal middleweight in Jason Quigley and brothers, and McGinty’s old amateur team-mates, Aaron and Stevie McKenna.

Both Quigley and the younger of the two McKenna brothers, Aaron are aligned to Golden Boy, but like Stephen McKenna their new signing hasn’t yet teamed up with a promoter.

Ireland’s newest pro won’t be too perturbed particularly after witnessing how active Stephen McKenna has been since turning over.

‘The Hitman’ made his debut as recent as April 2019, has three wins to his name already and is scheduled to fight again at the Hanger in Costa Mesa on October 10.

His brother Aaron, who fights under the Golden Boy banner, has been equally as busy with eight fights since turning over in December of 2017. Sheer’s track record of keeping prospects busy certainly bodes well for the their latest Irish addition.

The interest young Irish fighters by the management company also bodes well for prospects from this country. The LA based boxing company may continue to offer another alternative for amateurs looking to ditch the vest, indeed they had Ireland’s youngest male pro, James Power, over in America recently sparking rumour they may be interested in working with the Cork fighter.

 

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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