DONEGAL boxer Brett McGinty got his pro career off to a winning start tonight.
McGinty overcame Jan Ardon 59-56 on points in Redditch.
The six-round contest was on the undercard of Craig Richards’ British light-heavyweight title win over Shakan Pitters.
McGinty had had a long wait for his pro debut having officially ditched the vest in September 2019.
A planned March debut was shelved because of the Covid-19 shutdown, but the 22-year-old St Johnston slugger began with a points win.
He arrived in Redditch, near Birmingham, with a real purpose, eager to make a fine first impression.
Although McGinty got a scare in the fourth stanza, it was a good win for the Ricky Hatton-trained middleweight.
Ardon lost to another debutant, John Hedges, in Milton Keynes in October and the 25-year old Czech came here with a 2-5 record.
As an amateur, McGinty fought with the Oakleaf Boxing Club in Derry and won eight Irish titles.
The first of those arrives in April 2010 when McGinty defeated Colm Quinn of Castlebar in the Boy 1 46kgs final.
Seven more Irish crowns followed while McGinty also added Commonwealth Youth silver and European Schoolboys bronze medals to his tunic.
A two-time Irish Elite finalist, Ireland’s big amateur prize narrowly eluded McGinty, who has been itching for his crack at the professional ranks.
It had been 22 months since his last competitive fight, an Elite semi-final loss to Gabriel Dossen in February 2019.
In September 2019, McGinty inked a deal with Los Angeles-based management company Sheer Sports Management and this week confirmed a link up with promoter Hennessy Sports.
After coming out clean, he is now aiming for a quick second fight in early 2021.
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