Offaly boxer wins sixth professional fight in emotional tribute to late father

OFFALY boxer Paul Loonam won his sixth professional fight at a red raw, emotionally charged 3Arena in Dublin on Friday night.

It was a huge occasion, powerfully sad occasion for the Pullough man as it was his first fight without his late father, also Paul Loonam, in his corner. There was a terrific atmosphere in the 3Arena and heartbreaking scenes before Loonam's fight as silence descended for a fantastic tribute to his father with images displayed on a big screen.

The late Paul Loonam snr was a hugely popular individual in the Pullough area and much further afield. A former footballer with Erin Rovers, he was a great boxing enthusiast and died in an accident while working on a machine at a construction site near Ballinamere in July.

Paul Loonam senior had played a huge role in the boxing career of his son, guiding him from a young age at St Carthage's Boxing Club in Rahan to winning national amateur championships. Paul Loonam turned professional after missing out on qualification for the Paris Olympics and Friday's win over English man Jake Pollard was his sixth as a professional.

Loonam was in great form, determined to pay a fitting tribute to his father as he won all six rounds in a comprehensive points win. He had won the BUI Celtic super bantamweight title in his previous fight, beating Limerick man Myles Casey but this was a much different occasion for him.

It was a great night for the wider Pullough community with bus loads of supporters making the trip to Dublin to both support him and pay a heartfelt tribute to a man whom they cherished.

Loonam told Irish Boxing.com before the fight: “My Dad showed me many things. He showed me how to be a father, the values he carried with our family. He gave me those tools to carry on for my son and hopefully more kids in the future.

“He’s been a critical part of my life. He always had everything to give. If anyone needed anything, he was there — no questions asked. He never wanted publicity or thanks, it was just a done thing. Everybody knew he was a gent of a man.

“To be honest, I wouldn’t be the boxer I am today without my dad. He was the driving force in everything. From the time I joined boxing at seven, he was there. He and my brother coached me from when I was ten. If an international trip needed paying for, he was there with no questions asked.

“To me, he was a king. That’s the way I always looked at him. And I always told him I appreciated what he did. He knew he was loved, and he knew I really appreciated all the support he gave me.”

“I don’t know what emotions it’s going to bring up. But I think it’s going to light a fire in my belly that I never had before. I have to keep my head screwed on in the ring, block out the noise, and be clever — because that’s what he’d want me to be. Then afterwards, I can look back and say, ‘I did this for him'.

“This is for him, but it’s also for me and for everyone who loved him. It’ll be nice to remember him that way, and I know he’ll be with me in there.”

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Loonam's fight was part of the undercard as former Olympic Games medal winner, Michael Conlan defeated Jack Bateson in his professional Dublin debut at the 3Arena