Time is running out for Sean McGlinchey’s pro dream
Sean McGlinchey still hopes to turn professional, but admits to being frustrated by “false promises” from prospective promoters.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist revealed to Irish-Boxing.com his desire to go pro during the Summer and, while the fire still burns, he acknowledges that his time is running out.
24 year old McGlinchey stepped back through the ropes on Thursday night for the first time in months, facing English starlet Lewis Williams in a in a test international in Belfast and explained how “I got a phone call from Eugene O’Kane my coach, who’s up in the Ulster High Performance, they were stuck for a man.”
“I needed to test myself, I have been punching bags and doing pads but I needed sparring and a test match against a young English lad at 18, at 90 kilos, was perfect. I’m not a 90 kilo fighter, I’m a super middleweight, but not having sparring in a couple of months my weight was heavier. I thought I did reasonably well, I wasn’t happy with my performance but it was good to be back.”
Detailing his correspondences with promoters, the Derry man described how “I’ve been in talks with a few people, but it was more false promises more than anything. I was chatting with people in England but it all went dead in the water for some reason.”
“I’ve been in talks with people and I nearly signed a deal before Christmas, I was chatting to them from the Summer, but things fell through. It just shows that nothing’s a done deal until the dotted line is signed.”
“I still have an interest in turning pro. Unless it’s really necessary I don’t see myself boxing amateur again. The Commonwealth Games are more or less off the table unless a promoter comes and says I need a few more amateur fights then I’ll go and do it.”
“It’s pro or nothing.”
The Oakleaf BC fighter may soon face a tough decision. With a family to support and bills to pay, he can’t wait around forever and feels he will need something solid “by the middle of next year.”
“I’ve a young wee one, I’ll need to go back to school or start making money from boxing.”
“I would relocate, but I’ve a young family. Me relocating to America, it’s not like Mick [Conlan] where he’s on a good wage, for me it would be off my own back.”
McGlinchey definitely believes he has something to offer in the paid ranks. The chief sparring partner for Eamonn O’Kane ahead of his World title eliminator versus Tureano Johnson, he notes how “most boxers say that they would make a better pro, but if you go back through my records, even when I was fighting at Boy 1, first rounds were never my time. I always find it hard to get started in the first round but then I improve as the fight goes on. I’ve got the style that would be exciting for the fans, I always want to fight and I like to get inside.”
“I’m looking at the Irish super middleweights. When I do sign, I want the Irish super middleweight title. It’s my first option and any promoter I chat to I let them know I want the Irish super middleweight title.
