Michael Sweeney will fight in France on February 14 in St Quentin on the undercard of the Cristobal Cruz vs Cyrill Thomas’s for the IBF featherweight title as the first Irish fighter to benefit from the Banner Promotions Tommy Egan Promotions joint venture.
Much to his wife’s disappointment, fighting will be all that Michael Sweeney will have on his mind in the country of love, France on Valentine’s Day, as he begins an exciting fresh dawn on this world championship bill.
There does however, appear to be some semblance of romance in the teak tough Mayo pugilist, as he claims his upcoming bout is another step in a sequence of positive events that has seen him fall back in love with the boxing game.
The New Year means a new era for Sweeney. He has joined forces with fellow Western and Irish boxing legend, Rosmuc’s Sean Mannion to train for the most important fight in his career to date.
It’s a far cry from where Sweeney, a fighter who has been compared to Steve Collins, found himself this time last year. The undefeated hard hitting light-heavyweight was previously disillusioned with the business end of the fight game.
That, however, is now a problem of the past and Sweeney claims he is now excited about the year to come and his boxing future.
“I am really excited about this year and the fight coming up. Things have changed dramatically; my career has jumped from zero to one hundred percent. I am delighted to be with Banner Promotion and Tommy Egan. They have given me a great opportunity and I am going to grab it with both hands.
“I am going to be fighting all over the world this year and on some top class shows. I was really excited when I fought on the undercard of Bernard Dunne and Andy Lee, but being part of a world title show, you can’t get better than that. I fought in Boston last year and the reception was great. Now I am in France on Valentine’s Day. My wife is really excited about that, but all I will be focused on will be fighting and winning. A lot lays in store for me now. Tommy Egan has been great and has done brilliant work for me and could do a lot for Irish boxing,” Sweeney enthused before explaining how things have changed for him in recent months.
“There is a big difference now. When I started out training and trying to get into the game I found it difficult. It’s the same for all fighters. Then you get on a show you have to sell tickets which is also a nightmare and can affect your training, which in turn can affect your performance. That’s a thing of the past now, I have guaranteed fights, and on great cards. Also my training isn’t interrupted by worries of ticket sales. Every fighter wants to fight for world titles and I am no different. That is up to my team though, but I would like to fight for an Irish Title in the summer if possible.” he added.
Not having to worry about ticket sales or the business end of the pro game will not be the only improvement to the Mayo fighter’s preparations, however. Sweeney will ready himself to take on a yet to be named opponent in Saint Quentin on February 14 under the guidance of the man who went 15 rounds with the great Mike McCallum, Sean Mannion.
“We have high hopes for Michael and we have put him with Sean Mannion because we think he can help him reach his potential,” Sweeney’s manager Tommy Egan explained.
“Sean Mannion is an Irish boxing legend. He has fought five world champions and he will be a great asset to Michael. To have such experience and knowledge in his corner will really benefit Michael. I have the greatest admiration for Sean. He was one of the toughest Irish fighters of all time. He was never put down in 59 fights in America. In 1984 he went 15 rounds with the famed Mike ‘the body snatcher’ McCallum, a fight which was joint top of the bill with Marvin Hagler and Mustafa Hamsho in Madison Square Garden.
“Sean is a legend of Irish boxing, but like most that went to America little was know of him here. Every time I go to the States people can not speak highly enough about him. He would have really benefited from the Banner Promotion Tommy Egan deal. It’s a pity this type of deal didn’t exist then and Sean himself has said that and commended what we are doing for Michael and Irish boxing,” Egan added before explaining why they feel it best Sweeney trains with his fellow Westerner.
“Sean is, like Michael, from the West and Michael can live and train from home. He won’t be away from his family for long periods which means he will be happier and train better. Michael will also have the full attention of Sean and his training team going into what is a huge fight for him, which again is another advantage.
“Also Michael just has to worry about fighting and getting ready for the fight. None of my fighters will have to worry about selling tickets. I want them to concentrate on progressing their career. It’s unfair to expect them to worry about getting people in the door. Ticket sales are a promoters responsibility, fighting is a fighter’s. Michael’s performances will make ticket sales easy he will entertain and win in the ring but he will never have to physically sell a ticket,” former amateur Egan added.
“Michael has the chance to display his talents on a world title undercard and in front of a global audience. He will be on American, French and most likely Irish TV and if he proves himself can benefit from the Tommy Egan Banner Promotion joint venture and eventually secure European and world title shots, and we think his fellow Westerner Sean can prepare him for such bouts.”
