Brett McGinty excited about plans for 2021 after explosive pro debut

The 22 year-old St Johnston man exploded on the scene as he dug deep to clinch his debut victory in the paid ranks against the dangerous Czech Republic southpaw, Jan Ardon in Redditch last month.

It was a risky fight taken at the final hour but one the former Oakleaf ABC clubman refused to turn down having waited so long to make his professional bow.

McGinty will now make a swift return to action on March 27th on promoter, Mick Hennessy’s card and he’s hoping it will be the beginning of an extremely busy year in the ring.

“I think it’s going to be a busy year by the looks of things,” said McGinty. “I think the plan is for me to have four or five fights this year. The contract I signed was for six fights in the first year,” he explained.

“So providing everything goes to plan, no injuries, then that’s what I’ll be preparing for.”

With Hennessy in his corner and former two weight world champion Ricky Hatton fine-tuning his skills in his Manchester gym, McGinty’s career is in good hands.

Hennessy Sports have a long-running deal with Channel Five and McGinty is delighted to have that kind of priceless exposure so early in his career.

It’s hoped fans will be permitted to attend his next show in March, something McGinty is relishing. He admits his debut appearance was ‘strange’ as he was without his family and friends and his long-time amateur coach, Eugene Duffy.

“To be honest it was a very strange experience. I was with Eugene at Oakleaf for 10 years and then he wasn’t even at my first pro fight. It wasn’t ideal obviously.

“Then I won my fight and was flying back home the next day but I went back to the house on the Friday evening on my own and it was an anti-climax.

“I had just won my pro debut and then a couple of hours later I’m back in the house on my own. I actually had a bath and went to my bed. There was no going out celebrating. I was stiff and sore and went to bed,” he laughed.

“So I would be absolutely buzzing to have fans there next time. Mick was actually intending to have us out early in March but depending on what the guidance is, he might be able to have some fans in by the end of March.

“That’s why the venue isn’t confirmed yet because it will depend on whether or not fans will be allowed in. Either way the show will go ahead on the 27th but we are hoping to get a few fans in for it.

“That’s one of the good things about Mick Hennessy, regardless of what happens with Covid, he can run shows as he has Channel Five financially backing him.”

McGinty’s amateur pedigree and his exciting style and power makes it difficult for any matchmaker to secure an opponent. The Covid-19 situation has further exacerbated that and it’s something he’s learned the hard way.

Indeed, just three days before his debut bout, his original opponent pulled out leaving him with little option but to take on the challenge of southpaw, Ardon, who weighed in close to light heavyweight for a six rounder!

Determined not to have his career derailed once more, McGinty took the challenge head on and came through with his reputation enhanced after the 59-56 decision.

Hennessy described his performance as ‘way too exciting’ for a debut but believes he has a ‘great TV style’ and a big future.

“The old saying, if you can win titles in Ireland coming through the amateur system, you can win titles anywhere in the world,” said Hennessy.

“It’s such a tough system to come through. Not only are they (McGinty and Stevie McKenna) accomplished, elite amateurs worldwide, they have just got great TV styles. The public are going to love them and look forward to the next appearance.”

McGinty admits his debut was a tough test and he’s been advised to take a step back so he can ease his way into the professional game.

“The plan now is to almost take a step back because that was a fight a lot of people would’ve taken on six or eight fights into their career and I had it in my first.

“The reason I had it on my first was because people were pulling out left, right and centre. I’ll likely be in with a few opponents I can learn against so that I’m not having to dig in and find that couple of extra per cent to get over the line.

“It’s more about trying out new things I’m working on in the gym and implementing them in the ring. You need to learn too.

“But that fight (against Ardon) I had to take it. I had been out of the ring for 21 months - nearly two years! I’m 22 now but the last time I fought I was 20 which is a long time for somebody young, I just needed to get in there and didn’t care who it was.

“The weight definitely didn’t help. It was nearly up to light heavyweight. I couldn’t believe it when he got on the scales. I just needed to get that one over me and I have now.”

He was originally to fight journeyman Chris Jenkinson (12-74-3) and his late replacement had his coach, Hatton unnerved.

“It was so late notice it left us kind of panicking. Ricky told me they had offered Jon Arden who I had sparred. He’s from Czech Republic but based in Manchester.

"I knew what he was like and I controlled the spar. He said he was southpaw, fairly sharp and could get on his bike. He pretty much said he wasn’t into taking a risk on someone’s career this early.

“I told him I respected and understood that but that I cannot afford another disappointment. I’ve been training in England the past 10 or 11 weeks and if I was to go back home over Christmas and start all over in the New year, mentally it would’ve been really, really tough.

“It pretty much turned out he was the last option. It was him or nothing so we ended up taking the fight. It turned out to be a good thing because I learned a lot and it should stand to me in the future.”