BLAZE OF GLORY
Martin Mcdonagh finishes on a high with Three Nations win
DID you go to the GB Three Nations?
I went to the Three Nations because [Luke] Mccormack went to the Europeans. So they picked me. I beat Billy Edwards, who just got a bronze medal out in Belarus, from Wales and I beat Robbie Mckechnie from Scotland in the final. He was a come-forward fighter so I was catching him. Billy Edwards, he’s a counter boxer so I put it on him. Twos and threes. I beat them both comfortably in two different styles as well. How were the England Boxing Elites?
I had a good run in the ABAS, I lost to Luke Mccormack [in the final]. He had a point took off him so I pushed him to the limit.
He’s good, it was a good fight. He’s one of the best in the world.
In the semi-finals I came up against Ryan Fillingham. He beat me twice before that on a split decision and I got the gameplan right when it counts, in a championship. Would you say he’s the best you’ve boxed?
He’s up there, with one of the best I’ve boxed. I’ve boxed Dalton Smith. He’s another top GB kid and that was good fight. I’ve boxed some good kids but they’re the two best.
Do you feel you’ve done everything you needed to do as an amateur?
I think so. I don’t know if I was going to get on GB. I might, but I don’t think I was going to get selected because Smith and Mccormack were always in front of me. I thought it was time to go [pro]. I’ve done my apprenticeship. I’ve done everything as an amateur, I’ve done it all. I’ve boxed the best kids in the country.
I won the NABCS on the Thursday in the Midlands and then I went straight up that night and fought Dalton Smith on Boxnation in the GBS last year.
For you, what’s been the highlight of your amateur career?
Getting to the ABA final and then winning the Three Nations, that was good. But getting to the final, especially from last year, getting to the semi-final and getting done by a bad decision, to come back and get to the final.