‘This is the start’ – Katelynn Phelan ready to kickstart big career with big German win

Katelynn Phelan [3(0)-0] is confident she will win the first of many massive career fights in Germany today.

The 20-year-old enters the Lion’s Den to hunt one of the biggest results of the year in Irish boxing.

The young Kildare Town welterweight battles the odds and German-Ukrainian sensation Jessica Schadko [8(2)-0] for a number of progressive titles.

While Ireland’s youngest professional female boxer has three wins from her three pro fights thus far, Schadko is unbeaten in eight and there is significant investment being placed in the 19-year-old phenom.

The Lilywhite also has to step up from four rounds all the way to ten for this bout and, if a jump in rounds and quality opposition isn’t enough, she will be fighting Schadko behind closed doors in the German’s own boxing club, the CPI Gym.

However, the St Brigid’s BC graduate, who won nine Irish titles, European Junior bronze, and World Youth bronze, feels more than up to the challenge this weekend.

“I know that Jess is going to be in top form as well, she’s going to try her hardest, but we’re going to come out on top,” she declares confidently.

“This is a big challenge and we are fighting in her back garden but I’ve fought all over the world in numerous rings. I’m up for a challenge, who doesn’t love a challenge? I’ve full confidence in myself and I know I’m ready for this.”

A win this evening would change the direction of Phelan’s career massively.

The Kildare fighter would be earmarked as a fringe world level fighter at just 20-years-old, something which is very rare in female boxing.

Phelan is confident she will secure a significant win and use it as a platform to secure more.

“This is the start, I have massive goals ahead and I know I’m well capable of achieving every single one of them that I put my mind to. This is a big, big goal but it still is only a stepping stone to what I am capable of.”

Phelan has prepared more for this chance than any other fight or tournament in her life. She explains how “I’ve been training for the past few months for.”

“I’ve been training for the past few months for this fight, preparing, working hard, day-in, day-out, working with my coach Niall Barrett and my dad Paddy. Training has been tough but it’s been great, I’ve been enjoying every single day.”

“I’ve been training since June for this fight and it hasn’t been hard to stay in the gym because I love it so much. I train every day, it’s just my passion to keep training, to work hard, and do what I can to achieve my goal.”