Farrell’s time is now after mystery issue

Neil Moxley

IT is all pointing towards success as far as Niall Farrell is concerned.

Finally, as the featherweight is now in his prime. But it was so nearly over before it had truly got underway.

A stop-start three-year mystery surrounding an injury to his right hand ended with his index finger being stuck straight out for one week solidly as medics battled to save his career.

Farrell, 24, said: “Originally, I hurt my right hand sparring when I was 16. I never thought it was a big deal.

“I won a bronze medal at the Youth European Championships but it got worse, way worse. It was sore. I had a steroid injection. It worked. But I was boxing Louie Lynn – a tough man, very good pro. As I stepped into him I threw a backhand and it just went.

“I was in so much pain I couldn’t move my finger. It was set – pointing out, straight, and I couldn’t bend it. For about one week. I was sparring, one-handed, on the bags. In the end, they had to open it up. I’d split every tendon down to the bone. Every time I clenched my fist, it opened them up. Every time I made contact, I was doing so on bone. No wonder I was in so much pain.

“Ten months after the first operation, I sparred and it was a multi-nations camp. I was fighting a kid from America. I hit him and the pain shot up my neck. It was on a different level.

“I sat down with the surgeon again and he said: ‘Look, if this doesn’t work, there isn’t another plan’.

“When he told me that this could be the end I was shattered.

“Fortunately, he opened me up again. And this time, it worked. I’m in a good place. My time is now.”