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Top award for Buncrana boxer
15.01.10
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
WILLIAM McLaughlin has made a fantastic start to the
new year without even lifting a glove! The Buncrana
boxer scooped a prestigious Senior International
Achievement Award at the Irish Amateur Boxing
Association awards in Dublin on Friday night.
The award comes on the back of a great 2009 for the
Illies Golden Gloves man, when he claimed the Irish
National Seniors title and reached the last eight of
the World Championships.
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent this week
William said he was delighted at the award.
“It is a great award to get,” he said. “Last year
was an unbelievable one for me and now I have to try
to match it.”
Father and mother, Andy and Helen, and girlfriend,
Michelle, accompanied William to the Fitzgerald
Hotel, Dublin, where he was honoured. |
McLaughlin is back in
training ahead of the Ulster Championships in
Belfast later this month having been out of action
with a back problem over Christmas.
“My preparations for Ulster have been hampered by a
back injury. I have been unable to run, skip or
punch properly,” he said.
“It is important that I take my time and let it heal
but I am confident I will be fit and ready for
Belfast on January 24th.”
The Buncrana man hopes to defend his National
Seniors title in Dublin in February. |
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“I am confident that I
can perform well at the National Stadium. I will be
going all out to retain my title,” he said.
Illies Golden Gloves coach, Eamon Duffy, paid
tribute to his star pupil.
“To get international recognition is a great
achievement for William,” he said.
“He is such a dedicated fighter and all the younger
boys in the club really look up to him. We are very
proud of him.”
Duffy also paid tribute to fellow coaches, Stephen
Friel and Clive Whitbread, who contributed to
William’s phenomenal success. |
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