Offaly's first pro boxer aims to follow in footsteps of hero Katie Taylor

Offaly man Paul Loonam is training hard for his first professional bout, and even with the arrival of his first baby, his training is being timed to perfection. 

The 22-year-old Pullough native is the first Offaly boxer to turn to professional and is now aiming to win his first fight, which is scheduled for Friday, May 10 at the Warehouse Redcow Complex. 

And even a very special recent arrival couldn't derail his training camp. 

"I am flat out at the minute. I am only after becoming a Daddy as well, so I'm busy with that. I'm actually sleeping well. My girlfriend, Karolina, is the best in the world so she is allowing me to sleep and train," Paul said. 

Not surprisingly, Paul is hoping to mark the birth of his baby boy Gianni, with a first professional win. 

Fighting at super bantamweight, Paul will be aiming to weigh in at 55.9kg. He said it might be difficult to perfect his weight, if it wasn't for the 'right guidance' and the help of a nutritionist. 

The 12 week training camp has been planned to the finest detail, with the bulk of conditioning done in the first few weeks, prior to the expected birth. He had something of a week off to coincide with the birth of their baby boy, but he continued his runs and preparation, but not at the same intense level. 

Paul is an experienced amateur boxer, having boxed for 12 years before opting to turn professional.

"I just decided it was the right time to turn pro," he explained. 

A big change will be the step up to six rounds for Paul's first pro fight, double the standard amateur three round fights. 

"There are more hours in the training, because as a pro, your fights are longer," Paul explained. 

"You have to be a little more durable and have to be able to go a bit longer," he said. 

"It is really tough, when you start as a pro. You are just trying to get your name out there. Unless you are an Olympic gold medalist, you are not going to get a big fight contract," he said. 

The last one to get one of these was probably Michael Conlon, Paul recalls. 

"You are starting from the ground up, really. You have to gain a lot of sponsorship. I have one definite sponsor for the fight shorts and then I have a couple of sponsors for the T-shirts. Sponsorship plays a major part in me being able to train full-time," he said. 

"At the moment it is hard to make ends meet, starting out, but I have a lot of great support around me. But you have to trust the process. When you are starting out in a business, you have to invest in it," Paul said. 

He is training with Gary Cully, who was on the last two Katie Taylor cards, who has told him that he was lucky not to be in debt for the first couple of fights.  

"I am just above that, so it's good - it's not costing me, but I am not making anything yet," he said. 

His opponent was known at the time Paul spoke to us, and was due to be revealed within the week. 

"I am always told 'focus on your own performance' but you like to have someone in front of you to say I'm going to smash him," Paul explained. 

"As my coach says, focus on what you do and you will win," Paul added. 

"My aim is to win that fight big. It's an entertainment business that I am in. The show that's on in Dublin is a really good one. I am going to try an entertain everyone with a big performance," Paul said. 

"If I can win in style, that would be great. The result is everything. If it ends in a knockout, I would be happy out. But the win is the main thing," the Offaly boxer said. 

Fighters have to sell tickets to cover the cost of the show. Paul has managed to sell triple of what the minimum is, so far. 

"I have great support. Everyone might support you in your first fight, but it might be different three or four fights down the line. We have a 52-seater bus going and I think we have to organise another one [due to demand]. There is a bus going from Clara, which will head up to the venue," Paul said. 

When asked who his inspiration is, he said "it would definitely have to be Katie Taylor". 

"She is the pride of Ireland. She is the biggest athlete in Ireland, really. She is just so grounded and everyone has huge respect for her," Paul explained. 

"I aspire to be like Katie, personally, and obviously boxing skill-wise too," the Pullough man said. He added that Kellie Harrington is another great ambassador for the sport of boxing. 

Paul thanked all those who have supported, particularly his mam Carmel, his dad, Paul Snr, and his brother Kevin  - who have both coached him for numerous years in the amateurs. His dad is going to continue coaching him professionally. He also thanked his coach Niall Barrett from Naas.