Lavin sets sights on Mayo homecoming
Swinford native Eoghan Lavin is preparing for his third pro fight against Frenchman Remi Scholer in Birmingham on November 2.
A year has passed since Swinford boxer Eoghan Lavin packed his bags and made the journey to Manchester to follow his fighting dreams of fame and fortune. The 21-year-old has got off to a flyer as a professional with two wins in two and a third victim in his sights.
A standout amateur with Ballyhaunis Boxing Club, Eoghan claimed nine national titles and a European silver medal before deciding the pro game was for him. Next, he takes on game Frenchman Remi Scholer at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham on November 2 and is keen to showcase his progress under the guidance of former world champion-turned-trainer Anthony Crolla.
“Working with Ant has been great; we’ve gelled and he’s very good at explaining things,” Eoghan said. “Scholer comes to fight but I’ll fight whoever I’m told to fight. If Crolla’s happy for me to fight, I’ll fight. I don’t really care. We both think there’s a good chance I can knock this guy out.”
Based at Fox ABC in North Manchester, Eoghan is training each day with a stable of elite fighters from novices to world champions – from top prospects Bobby Faulkner, William Crolla, and the Croft twins to experienced professionals like James Moorcroft, Robbie Davies Jr, and Rhiannon Dixon. The work is hard, the verbal jousting arguably harder with a mix of characters all chasing glory.
“I think they’re getting used to me!” Eoghan laughed. “At first, I don’t think they could understand me and some of the jokes I’d have, but I couldn’t ask for a better group. Everyone in the gym has a different story, but when we get in and start boxing, everyone is the same.
“I could never get sparring as an amateur in Mayo. Even to travel within Ireland it was hard to get sparring because the other fighters around my weight were worried about fighting me. Over here, there’s so many of us around the one weight. Good lads from other gyms want to come to us because they know they can get ten good rounds of sparring no problem. There’s always someone in the gym to imitate whoever it is we’re fighting. You can’t beat it.”
Mayo has long produced talented boxers, but few take the professional path. In recent times, Geesala’s Henry Coyle excited fans – mainly Stateside – and Ray Moylette from Islandeady bowed out with a win at the TF Royal in Castlebar earlier this year.
The baton has been passed to Eoghan who, along with Coach Crolla, has amassed a strong support team. Promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensberry outfit and co-managed by Donegal’s David McGinley Sport and Anthony Joshua’s 258 MGT.
“I decided that if I got offered a good enough deal, I’d take it. I’d been out a long time injured, and the change was what I needed. I had spoken to well-known pros, and they all rated me as a boxer so there was no reason just because I’m from Mayo that I couldn’t go pro, just like they did. I saw English lads going pro and I thought that I was better than them,” added Eoghan.
The future is certainly bright, but the long-established journey from Mayo to Manchester hasn’t been an easy one for the Midfield middleweight. Strangely, considering the ties between the two places, Eoghan arrived in the city alone and with few contacts.
“I have family over here I didn’t know I had, and they’ve since come to my fights. I hadn’t met the Manchester cousins until I came here, but my dad knew them.
“At the start it was very tough. I had no place to stay, and I couldn’t rent anywhere. It’s hard regarding credit scores and all that. I was staying in hotels and B&B’s. I stayed in one place about five minutes’ walk from the gym and I heard mice moving around the bed at about two in the morning! I decided that I couldn’t stay there – it was twenty pound a night, no heating or nothing!
“Randomly, I eventually found a place in Ashton-under-Lyne with a landlord who’s into boxing, so it’s been ok.
“Once I get a couple of sponsors, get my own place, get sorted and have a bit more of a regular income, hopefully I can get some money together and get a mortgage on a place over here.”
After twelve months in the city, Eoghan has gradually got to grips with the place and the frenetic pace of life.
“I speak to so many people and when they ask me what part of Ireland I’m from and I say Mayo, they laugh. Everyone’s from Mayo here!”
After next month’s Birmingham show, there’s a chance Eoghan could box in Ireland before the year is out with talk of a December event at a venue to be confirmed. But of course, there’s no place like home and bringing professional boxing back to Mayo again is the dream.
“The ideal thing would be the end of next year to fight for the Celtic title in Mayo whether it be at the TF or if not the TF, somewhere like Breaffy House. Eventually, a long way down the line, I’d like to get a big event at MacHale Park. But hopefully the short-term goal is to get to Mayo – anywhere, anytime with anyone!”
