Tonight (Friday), the Westville Hotel in Enniskillen will stage an International Fight Night between Austria and Ireland with Irish Elite 60kg Lightweight Champion Rhys Owens on the bill for Ireland.
The Erne Boxing Club-run event in partnership with the IABA High-Performance Unit, has garnered a lot of interest locally. Eight international contests are on the billing, and three supporting bouts will include Erne Boxers Anthony Malanaphy, Ben Millar and Cameron Suttle.
Owens and Malanaphy were across the water in Hertfordshire, for some sparring last week, along with Head Coach Sean Crowley, and Owens said he is looking forward to the big night in his hometown.
“You don’t see events like this up our way too often. I haven’t boxed in Enniskillen in two or three years now. Obviously, there’s a bit more hype around my name now since I’m Elite Champion and a lot more people know who I am now.
“There’s top lads going to be boxing on the bill, not only myself, but other Irish Champions, going to be fighting; some of which boxed at a really high level at Elite Europeans and Elite World Championships, so it’s going to be a good night of boxing – good high quality,” promised Owens.
“Not everyone can get down to Dublin or to Belfast to watch us, so it’ll be good for a lot of the local people to come out and support, so I’m looking forward to it,” said the 23-year-old.
Owens will fight Austrian fighter Muhammedali Ismaylov but the local lad isn’t too worried about the added pressure of fighting in front of his own people.
“I’ve been training hard, so I’m feeling confident. No disrespect to the lad coming over but I’d say Ireland is a stronger (boxing) nation than Austria. I’m excited more so than nervous.”
Owens is currently part of Irish Boxing’s Elite Squad and trains at the Sports Institute in Dublin and he’s adapting well to a new life as a professional athlete.
“I’ve been flying down there. It’s been tough being away from home but I’ve adapted to it well enough and I’m taking everything in down there, so it’s going good.”
Doors open at 7pm and boxing gets underway from 8pm. This is a ticket only event and tickets are £25 for adults and £15 for U16s, and are on sale at the Westville Hotel. All IABA members get 20% discount price of £20 for adults & £10 for children under 16.