6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kieran Molloy vows to make Galway a boxing capital ahead of Pearse Stadium bout
Kieran Molloy has vowed to make Kaisee Benjamin wish he did his homework when the pair clash at Pearse Stadium in Galway on 28 June.
Molloy is unbeaten in 11 professional fights, and not only does he want to become a world champion, but he wants to take his county along for the ride.
The 26-year-old flew in from London on Tuesday morning, where he trains with Charlie Beat, and went straight to the home of Galway GAA.
He will be the headline act of the first event to be held at the Salthill stadium, and as he walked around the pitch and up the steps of the main stand, it was obvious that the enormity of the occasion was hitting him.
The Oughterard man told the Irish Mirror: "I've been dreaming of moments like this since I was a kid.
"I've been here for many big football and hurling matches. I've got a few great mates playing football now for Galway, Matthew Tierney and Johnny Heaney, they'd all be local lads from where I'm from, so I know what the atmosphere and the crowds are like here.
"It's just huge now to be able to bring it back to the West of Ireland and have a first ever outdoor stadium.
"This has been my vision. I really do believe that Galway can become an active hub for Irish boxing. We're making history with this show alone.
"They've always had shows in Belfast and Dublin, and Galway's been missing out on all that. But on 28 June, people are going to set it for real and it's going to be very exciting. I think everyone is going to get right behind it.
"It's brilliant to be able to bring a different sport to this venue."
It was typical Galway weather for the press conference, a cold wind blowing and showers of rain.
Indeed, Molloy's opponent Benjamin started to shiver as the fighters sat down to talk about the upcoming fight.
And the Englishman, a former British title challenger, could be forgiven for wishing he were elsewhere as he revealed that he is on baby alert.
"My last couple of fights haven't been my past, as I had stuff going on outside of the ring. But I have got that all sorted now.
"I have a little girl on the way. The due date is the day after the fight, so I've got my wife eating prunes, dates and pineapples, everything to get it out earlier."
He added: "I'm doing it for her, my unborn child. I'm doing it for her future and my future.
"It's all or nothing for me."
Experienced campaigner Benjamin (18-4-1) raised some eyebrows when he said that he had never seen Molloy in the ring.
Asked how highly he rated the Galway man, he said: "To be honest, I've never seen him box. You might think I am being a bit naive, but that's the way I do things."
Molloy was quick to respond to this revelation, saying, "Fairy play Kaisee for stepping in as the last seven or eight opponents have all pulled out for one reason or another, but I would recommend that you get studying before 28 June or you could be in big trouble!"
The fight night is stacked with a brilliant undercard, including the likes of Belfast's Sean McComb, Westmeath's Joe Ward, and Hughie Fury, the cousin of heavyweight king Tyson, and a late addition to the bill.
But there is no doubt that Molloy, who was joined at Pearse Stadium by a host of family and friends, will bring the star attraction as he looks to inspire a new generation of Galway boxers.
He said: "When I started off boxing in the Oughterard Club, I was five years old, but I had dreams to fight here.
"That's where it all started for me, and the great coaching I received, and all the fans travelling up and down the country, around Europe and around the world to watch me fight, it's all preparation for these nights, and I'm going to grab this with both hands.
"I think everybody's in for a shock about how much noise this place is actually going to make on the night.
"It's going to build a massive platform for Galway boxing.
"In Belfast, you've got your Lewis Crockers and your Michael Conlons, in Dublin you've got your Katie Taylors, and in Galway it's going to be the Kieran Molloy show. We're going to build it massive."
