William the Conqueror 26.02.09
Supporters left
disappointed after Williams fight not televised by RTE
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent
ILLIES Golden Gloves boxer Willie McLaughlin made
history at the National Boxing Stadium on Friday night
when the Inishowen man brought a senior national title
back to Inishowen.
McLaughlin stopped fellow Donegal fighter Cathal McAuley,
from Dungloe, in the second round to take the Elite
National Senior Welterweight belt. He was crowned
champion when the referee stopped the contest in the
second round after giving McAuley a standing count.
“I caught [McAuley] with a right hand and then a left
hook and the referee came in. He got back up but you
could see he was staggering and so the referee stopped
the fight.
“It all happened so quickly. I started jumping up and
down with sheer joy and relief, because I’ve trained so
hard to get this title,” said the 22-year old, who
became the first Donegal-based boxer to win a
much-coveted senior title since 1992. |
McLaughlin, who defeated
Thomas Blaney and Roy Sheehan in his quarter and
semi-final bouts, has shown definite signs of
improvement since losing out at the semi-final stage of
this competition in 2008.
“I only beat Thomas 8-5 in last year competition, but
this year the score was 20-2. I knew that Sheehan was
the boy to beat in the welterweight division. He was a
three-time champion, going for his fourth national title
in a row this year,” said William, who edged a thrilling
contest 7-5 last week.
William’s win at the National Stadium delighted the
large contingent of supporters who’d made the journey
from Inishowen to cheer him on, but hundreds more tuning
into the senior finals on television were left
disappointed after RTE declined to show the contest.
William returned to a heroes welcome in Inishowen. |
 |
He was paraded on the pitch
at half-time in the friendly between Cockhill Celtic and
Finn Harps on Saturday afternoon and received a lengthy
ovation from the crowd, match officials and both sets of
players. He then set off on a cavalcade around Buncrana
and on to the Illies.
“Some of the Cockhill boys, Donal O’Brien, William
O’Connor and Derek Doherty, were down watching me in
Dublin and they invited me onto the pitch. It was
brilliant,” said William, himself a Cockhill Celtic
player.
“There are so many people to thank, but I have to praise
my coaches Eamon [Duffy], Stephen [Friel] and Clive
[Whitbread].”
William hopes that now he’s a national champion, he will
begin to receive funding from the Sports Council,
finance he feels is essential if he is to continue to
progress in amateur boxing. William is confident that
this result is only the beginning.
“Now I am fighting and sparring with the best on a
regular basis, I can only improve. There is definitely
more to come from me.”
Meanwhile, for those still disappointed about RTE not
screening William’s fight, Illies Golden Gloves have
obtained a videotape of the contest. The fight will be
screened in three Buncrana bars this Saturday night,
Dinny Grants, An Tuath Nua and O’Flatherty’s. Check with
venues later in the week for the times of screenings.
William returns to Dublin today [Tuesday] to prepare for
next week’s contest between the Irish senior champions
and their American counterparts.
For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the
Inishowen Independent. |
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