It’s a big year for Convoy boxer Bryan McNamee as he bids to work titles around the small matter of his Leaving Certificate.
The Deele College student jets off to Boston next Tuesday as part of a Donegal team that will line up against a Boston selection at the Teachers Union Hall in Dorchester on Thursday-week.
Back in November, McNamee Anthony Damirez in Philadelphia, when he traveled on a North-West Selction.
That night in the Clarion Hotel in Essington refuelled his desire to get back to the top again.
“It was unreal,” he said.
“There was a huge crowd in the hall. Hundred of people. There were people everywhere in the place. There were even people there from Raphoe I knew who were all shouting for us.
“I loved it. It was good to get out in front of a crowd like that.
“I can’t wait to get to Boston. It’s the second time in a few months to get a trip like this.
“Anytime I’ve been out of Ireland, it’s pretty much been with boxing. It’s a great chance to see the world.”
A three-time Irish champion previously, the Convoy light-welter has been unlucky since.
He said: “I won three-in-a-row in Irish titles and have been beat on split decisions since. I just seem to get so far and then fall.”
McNamee will target the Irish Under-18 Championships in May and the Boston experience will be part of the preparation.
It is a busy time for the quiet spoken McNamee.
He said: “I’m working toward the Under-18s.
“I have the Leaving Cert coming up and the Championships are planted in the middle of that. I was hoping that they’d be after the exams and it would have been perfect.
“It’s tough, but it’s brilliant; I love it.
“I’m training flat out. I’m doing three nights in the club, one night then with the team for Boston and I’d do bits myself. It’s every night at the minute.”
In 2013, McNamee competed in the European Schoolboy Championships at City West in Dublin and lost the first round to eventual bronze medalist Fokin Dmitrii.
McNamee said: “That was a brilliant experience. I wasn’t beaten by much. It was very small margins. There wasn’t much in it. I was happy enough.”
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