Ulster title for Maughan as McKeown honoured

Boxing news

Pandemic or not, Cavan Boxing Club continue to produce champions and Thomas Maughan made up for the disappointment of losing his Irish Final on a razor-thin 3/2 split decision by ending the year as Ulster Elite superheavyweight champion with some impressive performances in Belfast.

Maughan defeated a pair of Ulster senior champions on his path to the title. In the semis, Thomas was always in control against the strong Will McCartan from Gilford, current Ulster Novice champion, who certainly came to fight. Maughan has a sharp and impressive jab which he used to perfection in the opening session to find the range for the bigger shots.

He rocked his opponent several times before dropping him with a cracking left hook to seal victory but the game Gilford lad continued to try and exert pressure and hope for a big shot to swing things his way.

Maughan used his experience in the final round to stay out of trouble as the game, gutsy McCartan often left himself exposed looking for the big shot while Maughan took a clear decision off his opponent and he left the ring injury-free and with three good rounds under his belt for Thursday’s final.

Thursdays opponent was the massive Arron Travers from Carrickmore, current Ulster champion with a reputation for power but not great on his feet - so the plan was hit and move and come on stronger as Travers tired.

While Maughan carried this out to perfection and clearly took the opener the second saw Travers’ weight advantage take its toll and things became very messy at times as Thomas shaded a tight session and set up for a big last round.

The final session saw Maughan go back to ‘hit and move’, with the heavier Travers showing the toll of a physically tough previous round as the Cavan fighter controlled matters, boxing at long range with a controlled, aggressive approach to take the decision and the Ulster Elite title.

Surprise entry at middleweight and in his first ring return since 2015 was 34-year-old Stephen Flynn, making his appearance back at Elite level. He was in at the deep end against against the current champion Jake Tucker, now boxing out of the Emerald gym in Belfast and regarded as one for the future.

Never a boxing purist’s delight, the Mohill native is strong, game, tough as they come and an aggressive fighter. The only way the Cavan boxer could expect to win was by disrupting the educated skills of Tucker and he fought like there was no tomorrow. Tucker managed to neutralise Flynn’s aggression and despite clearly taking the opening session, also picked up a cut eye.

The second was closer as Flynn’s pressure and ‘no quit’ approach began to produce results as Tucker looked a very uncomfortable boxer. While the final session was a dour tough battle and right up Flynn’s street, he just could not make up the early lead of Tucker who retained his title.

Award

Most surprised man on finals night was veteran Cavan coach Brian McKeown who picked up an award for his services to Ulster boxing before moving on to work Maughan’s corner in the final fight of the evening.

The Cavan coach stated that he hoped this was not his redundancy notice as there is still hunger for champions yet and a few good fighters in the gym.

“Sadly, as I got older, the champions got bigger, from my first, Pat Cosgrove at light fly, to Thomas at super heavy. Tough going but the hunger is still there and a few more Cavan fighters will be champions before they retire me,” he said.

Meanwhile, there are big decisions in the offing for both Ceire Smith, absent from these championships on High Performance advice, and Thomas Maughan, in full-time employment and due to get married next year.

Both have offers from UK promoters to go pro, with a favourable pathway laid out. The Commonwealth Games is a possibility for Thomas as he was born in London and international competition with Ireland is on the cards.

Ceire will return to do her Masters at UCC after taking time out to qualify for the Olympics only to break in her thumb at the final training camp in Italy which ruled her out of the European qualifier.

Just as she was back and ready for action, the pandemic saw the World qualifier scrapped and she had to watch the Bulgarian she beat in the Europeans take Olympic gold.

While the pros and a planned programme tied in to her studies may suit Ceire, the age, experience, maturity and weight could well see Thomas consider a few more years at Elite level in the amateurs.