Byrne makes winning start to life in the pro ranks
Aodhan Byrne and his team celebrate in the ring after his win
Kildare and UNIT 3 Health and Fitness in Naas has another Professional Boxing sensation to follow as Kilcullen’s Aodhán Byrne made a winning start when he defeated Polish fighter, Marian Wesolowski, over four rounds in his debut Pro Fight in the Finn Valley Centre in Ballybofey on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old won all four rounds in what can be described as a home from home fight because of the family connections with the Donegal Town, birth place of his mother, Sinead and the place where Kildare’s latest Pro Boxer spends ever second weekend.
The Finn Valley Centre was full to its 600 capacity for this Jason Quigley Five Bout Pro Show as Byrne entered the ring to a raucous reception from the supportive hometown fans and the 40 supporters who travelled up from Kildare for the fight.
Speaking to The Kildare Nationalist after Saturday night’s fight a delighted Aodhán said, “It was a great feeling getting to walk out under the bright lights and soak up the energy with the Ring Walk. Definitely an exciting experience and one I think I was naturally quite good with, definitely a dream come true and one for which I've been preparing for many years.”
Byrne said it was different to winning in his amateur days. “There's a tension there with the face offs, the crowd, the smaller gloves, the buzz. The atmosphere is much bigger but I treated it the same as every other fight. I got into my own bubble, had fun and enjoyed the warm up and let it flow and I believe I shine for those reasons.”
The Kilcullen boxer described his Polish opponent as “a tough come forward fighter, which not many debutants would take in their first fight. It was a case of showing my skills and boxing for the first couple of rounds, then worked to push him back and take charge. I won all 4 rounds and nearly had the stoppage in the last round but I think my boxing skills and slick movement is what shone most on the night,” he explained.
As he told us pre fight Aodhán is noted for his ability to change style within fights. “I think I've always been able to box and change at any time so I don't like to limit myself to one game plan as my unpredictable style helps me. Opponents can't catch a rhythm because I'm constantly changing style. This fight was no different, sometimes I raised the pace, then slowed down, came forward then back and that's what suits me,” he added.
“In my third round I showed some slick movement and gave the crowd some entertainment with some flashy moves. It was a great feeling. In the fourth I felt I hurt him and tried to push him back and end the fight but he survived the round,” he told us.
Byrne was delighted with his support on the night. “The support was absolutely mental and I stole the show,” he purred.
“I had nearly 100 people jumping around during the walk out and everyone in Donegal couldn't get over the crowd and noise I brought. It was definitely a statement made. The buzz I had afterwards around me was class,” he continued.
“It was unreal having my family around, they've been supporting me for years but having them there on such a special night was unreal. About 40 of my mates had hotels booked and between themselves and all my family we had the place rocking,” he enthused.
Aodhán says he will now take a week or two off and relax and unwind before planning his next fight and “chasing the dream of becoming a big name in Irish boxing.”
