Laois boxer looking to maintain unbeaten pro record with third fight in Bradford this weekend
Mountmellick's Cian Reddy will be looking to make it three from three
Mountmellick’s Cian Reddy is gearing up for his third professional fight, returning to the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford, where he made his professional debut earlier this year. With two victories under his belt since turning professional in April, Reddy is eager to maintain his unbeaten record.
"I'm really looking forward to it, especially after having my last fight at home. I had a brilliant crowd; I sold over 150, nearly 160 tickets," Reddy said. "The last time I was in Bradford was my debut, so there were a lot of nerves. For my second one, I wasn't as nervous. It was my first fight with a new team, and I suppose everything you do in the gym only really counts when you're in the ring. I think both of my performances have been quite good so far."
Reflecting on his debut, Reddy noted that it was a nerve-wracking experience. "In my first one, there were a lot of nerves, but I handled it quite well. I boxed a tricky southpaw. In my second fight, I boxed a strong, rugged opponent who has been in there with everybody and gives everybody a good fight. I boxed quite well. I'm really looking forward to it. We've had a lot of notice for my third fight in Bradford, so hopefully, we'll bring a big crowd again like we did for my debut."
Reddy’s third fight will take place just over six months after his debut, and he feels he has evolved significantly in that time. "We're learning plenty in the gym. I have two coaches, Airijus in Unit 3 in Naas and Wayne Woods, who’s co-promoting the show in Bradford. I'll have learned a lot, and I'm just going to continue to learn and develop. It'll be a great opportunity again to showcase in Bradford what I've learned in that time," Reddy explained.
His October fight at Dublin’s National Stadium was a homecoming of sorts, having boxed there more than 50 times as an amateur. Yet, the professional stage brought a fresh perspective. "I've boxed in the National Stadium probably upwards of 50 times as an amateur, but it was a whole different atmosphere as well. The lights, the music, having that big a crowd—some of those people would have never seen me box. In the amateurs, as I've said in previous interviews, you don't need a crowd as much."
In professional boxing, however, ticket sales are crucial. "It's a little bit different in professional boxing because you have to sell tickets, you have to bring a crowd because of the expenses. If it was up to me, I'd be giving all these people tickets for free, but that's not the way it works. But to have that support behind me was unreal. I had a good performance as well, which really topped it off, but that's a credit to my coaches as well."
Balancing a professional lifestyle isn’t easy for Reddy, who travels weekly to Leeds to train with coach Wayne Woods. He praised Woods’ family for their generosity. "I have to give a special mention to my coach in Leeds, who has me over with his family every week. I stay there on the couch, and one of his kids even gives up their room. This is what it takes, and it's a real team effort from them. They've taken me in like one of their own to try and help me develop and be the best I can be as well."
Reddy also reflected on the support he receives from his Mountmellick community. "Everybody's support drives me on. I’m from Mountmellick, and people often say that people from small towns have small-town mindsets, but I've seen nothing but support and love from all these people. It's the likes of these people that really drive me on in and out of the ring."
Cian Reddy will return to the ring on Saturday, February 15, at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford, aiming to extend his unbeaten record to 3-0 as a professional.