Lavin is a real Midfield diamond

TEAM EFFORT Eoghan Lavin is pictured after winning the Irish Under-22 title recently with his coaches Martin Peake and Vinnie Moran.

Eoghan Lavin is making a name for himself in the boxing ring

Interview
Michael Gallagher

THERE’S something about boxing which excites the soul. Maybe it’s the tales of gladiators, rags-to-riches, pugilists and possibilities. Maybe it’s the big nights in Las Vegas, the smaller nights in Ballyhaunis or the lonely, proud, powerful journey from dreams to deliverance.
Boxing lends itself to great story-telling because boxing is peppered with great people and millions of dreams.
On Wednesday last, the aroma of coffee and cream cakes perfumed the air in the downtown cafe as shoppers, sightseers and those seeking a moment of solace found refuge from the chill February wind.
In a quiet corner sat an unassuming young man. Passers-by took little notice of him, and his 75kg frame didn’t dominate the eye-line. However, 18-year-old Eoghan Lavin is one of the most successful Mayo sportspeople of a generation.
The Midfield man is the rising star of Irish amateur boxing — the fighter, the warrior, the boxer who represents Ballyhaunis BC and has already been offered pro contracts by some of the biggest promoters on the planet — but on a quiet Wednesday in downtown Mayo, he’s far away from the bright lights, the big time and boxing immortality.
“I’ve been at it since I was seven,” he told The Mayo News. “Vinny Moran drove our schoolbus and he’s a coach in the boxing club in Ballyhaunis. He was always talking to us about boxing and my brother was already there, so I went along as soon as I could and loved every second,” Eoghan said as pictures began to be painted.
He couldn’t officially box until he was 11, but there was no holding the boy from Midfield in Swinford. He was taking part in exhibitions and stepping into the ring at every opportunity. At the age of 11 he was crowned Irish champion and the climb began in earnest. He wanted to take on the best; he wanted to be the best and he was obsessive about the journey.
“My parents have always been so good to me, but I’m an independent kinda fella and like to do things for myself,” he explained. “I wanted to feel like I was contributing to all the trips to Dublin for training, so I started labouring for a painter and then helping out at Jimmy Henry’s furniture place.
“I was only a kid, but boxing was my thing and I wanted to it to feel like it was mine. I had to go to Dublin every weekend for training and there was no way you’d stick at it unless it really was something you wanted.”
That single-mindedness has served Lavin very well. Eight Irish titles now rest on the sideboard back in Midfield. He’s the shining light of Ballyhaunis Boxing Club and tipped for the top by many shrewd observers.
The Irish Under-22 Championships took place a few weeks ago and although Lavin was exceptionally young for them he blew his way through to the title.
“I had two good 5-0 wins and then stopped a good lad in the final. It all went well and now all roads lead to the Europeans in Croatia in March. This is my fourth Europeans and I have a silver medal already from a few years ago, but my aim is to medal next month and take it from there,” he explained.
Lavin is now living the life of a top-class fighter.
Training in Dublin all week and looking towards continental and world domination.
“Since I was 11 I’ve been going to Dublin every weekend for the High Performance training, but now I’ll be training with the Elite Level senior team in Abbotstown for the Europeans and that’s a big step up. Senior boxing is where I want to be at right now and it’s different level stuff.
“I have to adapt now coming into senior boxing because it’s different and little things make a huge difference. I’m known better as a fighter more than a boxer, but I’ve adapted my style now and I like that.
“I had a hand injury for the Under-22s which forced me to throw my front hand more and that worked well so it’s another string to the bow.
“This style is needed on the international stage to take on the Russians and the Ukranians and guys like that, and anyone looking to be successful on a world stage needs to be thinking about those guys.”
Eoghan Lavin might be sitting quietly in the corner of the coffee shop, he mightn’t be attracting much attention from others in his proximity, but the young Swinford man may soon be one of Mayo’s most famous sons.
Boxng has the ability to lift one from obscurity to world domination. That’s why it’s so intriguing.
That’s why the story of Eoghan Lavin may yet be a best-seller.