Derry kickboxer set for “huge step up” in European Championship bid
Ráth Mór Warriors kickboxer Conal McBrearty is set to take a huge step towards his dream of winning a world kickboxing title this Saturday as he fights for a European title in Edinburgh.
The 21 year-old Creggan man has fought and won several titles in the past 18 months, including various Irish titles, as well as winning the semi-professional ISKA British K1 title in Sheffield last November, and continues to grow from strength.
This Saturday’s fight against Jamie McLelland is at the 72.5 kg weight class, a step up of two weight classes, but despite this, he “can’t wait to go, he’s really really eager.”
His head coach at Ráth Mór Warriors, Sean McGill is extremely confident in Conal’s ability to lift a world title but is focussed on the upcoming fight.
He said: “It’s a huge step up for Conal, he’s moving up a level and working towards his dream of winning a world title, hopefully that’ll happen now at the end of the year. It’s there for him, it’s just a case of putting the work in, keeping the head down, from now to then. Right now we’re not thinking that though, just the fight ahead.
“For many years now he has been training and picking up small provincial titles, then national titles and now this is his biggest fight.
“Conal had a dream as a 10 year old boy to become world kickboxing champion and that dream will very soon become a reality
Conal said that while he is looking forward to the challenge, he knows that his opponent will be no walk in the park. He reflected on everything he has achieved so far in his senior career which has led to this point and said that he is currently ‘flat out’ training to win his next fights: “All in all, everything that has happened in the past, all the wins, 18 wins along with winning a number Irish titles as well as the British title, has got me here now with this chance to fight for the European title.
“I am flat out training, six days a week, twice a day. Now not every session is full flight, as I don’t want to risk over-training, but everything is really precise. We have had a plan in place and this week now, I can feel myself peaking, so we’re ready now for Saturday night.
“Jamie is a well seasoned fighter, he’s been fighting for many years. He’s been at it a long time - I have been checking him out on YouTube and he was fighting 15 years ago, and has had multiple titles as well. So he’s tough, well seasoned. You could go as far as saying he’s a veteran of K1.
“Next week I am defending my Irish title, but ahead of that, hopefully this puts me in a good place now to fight for a world title, if all goes well.”