By Brendan Coffey
CHRIS Phelan calls them the little family and this Friday three Ryston boxers will fight for the right to be called an Irish senior champion. Phelan, together with club-mates Hughie Myers and Dervla Duffy, have been living and training together with their coach, Paddy ‘Parker’ Hughes and the Ryston trio’s formula has been successful so far.
Phelan became the last of the triumvirate to reach this Friday’s Elite finals when he won his semi-final in comprehensive fashion against Ruairi Dalton, 26-13, last Saturday in the National Stadium. His victory ensures a repeat of last year’s 52kg final and a chance for the Kildare town man to gain revenge against London-bound Olympian, Michael Conlon.
“He’s the Olympian, all eyes are on him (Conlon),” says Phelan, relishing the underdog’s role. “It’s a repeat of last year’s final. I can’t wait, I’m buzzing for it now. I’d go tomorrow morning if I had to. I’ve learned from last year and then I’ve been away at world championships. I’m used to the crowd now. The crowd will be no bother to me. And then this (National Stadium) is only down the road, I’m basically boxing in my back garden.”
After a slow start to his semi-final against Dalton, Phelan took charge in the second round to open up a 17-8 advantage and his crushing victory was sweet revenge for his one-point defeat to the same opponent last August in the box-offs for the 2011 world championships.
“I was delighted with it,” said Phelan of his semi-final win. “A slow start, second round I got going and landed a few more shots and got the points up. Won the second round and only had to go out the third round and pick him off. There was no big rush in the last round. Comfortable enough in the last round.”
Getting three fighters through to the senior finals is no major suprise to anyone following the rise of the Ryston club, who were yet again named club of the year at the IABA annual awards earlier this month. Two years ago, the Newbridge club had one boxer in a senior final; last year it was two and the omens look good for 2012 with three in the finals on Friday night (3 February).
“It’s getting bigger and stronger every year,” says Phelan. “Me, Dervla and Parko we’re like a little family going around. Wherever you see one, you see the rest of us. It’s paying off, it’s going well. I’m a lot more mature this year. The strength is up, the fitness is up. I’m starting to fill into a proper 52kg now.”
Friday night gives him the chance to show just how far he’s come in 12 months.