‘I’m going to get this title and fulfil a childhood dream’

Kickboxing

Cavan kickboxer Cian McCabe will hope to get his hands on a prestigious title when he takes to the ring at the Imperial, Main St, Cavan for an Irish title fight on Saturday, July 27.

The Killygarry fighter will take on Kilkenny man Adam Doyle for the vacant IKF Irish Middleweight K1 title and McCabe hopes a win will propel him further on his journey towards the professional ranks.

“There will be a bit of pressure on me now because I’m fighting at home and fighting for a title,” McCabe (24) told the Anglo-Celt.

“I fought last year at home and I could feel the pressure, fighting for the same title. That’s probably why I lost, I let the pressure get to me, I didn’t fight my own fight, I wanted to please the fans but this time I couldn’t give a damn about that – I’m just going to fight my heart out and get it this time.

“There is a bit of pressure there surely because I’m a local lad but this time, it’s going to be different, I’m actually going to get the title this time and live out a dream I had as a child.”

Doyle is something of an unknown quantity, with the McCabe camp unable to source much in the way of video footage of him in action.

“He’s from Kilkenny Combat Academy. I’ve never even heard of him before, nobody knows anything about him, he’s a bit of a mysterious fella.

“Nobody would take it at my weight, he actually fights at a weight class heavier than me, he fights at 81kg, and nobody would take the fight at 75kg so he is dropping down to take the fight. Everyone else is running away!” he said.

“We tried to (find footage) at the start but I couldn’t find anything on him. We found bits and bobs in Irish tournaments and sparring a couple of lads who I have beat in boxing, they were saying that he’s a tough fella, that he’s fit and has good hands on him, good kicks on him, that he’s prepared for the fight.

“I saw a few clips but I don’t feel that he’s going to beat me, I have great confidence after watching a couple of his spars.”

McCabe has been in heavy training for over two months now and feels fitter than ever, he said. When the Celt caught up with him, he had just finished another session.

“I went into camp at the end of April so I’m about nine weeks in camp now. I’m coming to the end of the heavy stuff now, then I’ll have a couple of weeks to taper off.

“I was up at 8.30 this morning, I went for a 5k run, then I went training. I’ll go home now and chill out for a bit and then I’ll go back training this evening. It’s three times a day at the moment.

“I’m training in Black Dragon but I also go up to Dublin on a Tuesday to Bridge Combat Fitness in Donabate to get some sparring rounds in with some good lads up there, some of them are already Irish champions and have gone pro. Just to get tougher rounds.

“That’s full contact sparring. It’s going very well, I’m holding my own against those lads up there in fairness, I’m getting no marks, no headaches, nothing like that. I’m feeling very fresh and very fit, a lot fitter than I was for the Scottish fight (in March). I’m very determined to get this belt now.”

Ticket sales are part of the job for all fighters looking to climb the ladder and McCabe is no different.

“I have sold over 150 tickets and the gym has sold over 50 odd and there are a lot of people still coming looking for tickets. We have 600 tickets to sell and we want to get rid of them and fill the place, get a good crowd there, not just for myself but for the other local fighters as well and get them the feel of the big stage.”

There are eight others from the Black Dragon gym fighting on the day, with 17 fights in total and “lads coming from the north, Dublin, Galway, Cork, Kilkenny, there will be a good crowd.”

Cian has been in demand of late and hopes a win will help him advance his career.

“I got a message this morning asking me to go back to Scotland in November and fight for a different Celtic title. I’m getting offers nearly every day of the week.

“What does this fight mean? It’s more experience and another step towards turning pro. This is one of the highest ranked titles in Ireland, a lot of good fighters have won this one and gone on to do great stuff in K1 and Muay Thai and MMA. It will open up a door maybe for a Five Nations fight in Galway next year.”

Tickets are available from Cian McCabe or the Lab gym in Cavan Town.

Doors open at 3pm on July 27 and the first fight is at 4pm.