Boxing News – July 25, 2019

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net JULY 25, 2019 lBOXING NEWSl 43

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can maybe hit them easier but they’ll

still come on very strong. It just depends

what you’re up against.

It’s hard because

anyone can come and

take over.

When did you first

get on to the Ireland

squad?

I was training with the

Olympians when they

were going to London

[2012], when I was 16.

I was number two for

while, until I was 22 years

old. I was number one then. But it was

great. I had all them years to help me.

HOW pleased were you to win gold
at the European Games?
I was over the moon. I was buzzing.
It’s worn off a bit now but it was a good
feeling.
It was unbelievable just because it was
my major breakthrough. Even though
I had been winning medals, to be on top
of the podium for the first time, at such
an important time as well.
I fought different style [in Minsk]. The
first one was a wee small tough one, then
the second fight was a tough one who
was my height, the third was a tactical
fight and the fourth was the final.
It was hard but adapting quickly,
maybe that’s why I did so well.
What was Mykola Butsenko like in
the final?
He beat me two years ago in the semi-
finals [of the European Championships].
That was when I was just coming on
to the scene. Now I’ve had two years
building up to it. My tactics were spot
on. I didn’t let him bully me. I was sitting
down on my punches more, meeting him
in the middle, just being smart.
He’s been around a few years. That was
his third [European] final he’s been in.
Now you and Peter McGrail have a
rivalry, you’ve fought each other a
few times. What was the bout like
this time?
It was very close. I just felt like I was
landing the bigger shots... We’ve fought
each other that many times we know
what to expect. It’s always going to be a
hard fight no matter what.
Thankfully it’s worked out for me the
last few times but every fight it’s going to
be different.
He’s definitely up there [with the best].
It’s hard because he’s very technically
good. But then you’ll fight someone
from Uzbekistan, who are animals. You

I wouldn’t have been ready anyway for

a while.

How did training and

sparring with Michael

Conlan help you?

It was good for me. The

winning mentality as well.

You were always seeing

him come back with gold.

You just think I need to

be doing well as well.

And your target is

Tokyo 2020?

100 per cent. The way

I’m performing now,

I can’t see a reason why not... There’s

always people chasing you though.

JUST CHAMPION:

Walker gets the nod

over Ukraine’s

Butsenko in the

European Games

final last month

Photo: ACTION IMAGES

SKY

HIGH

WALKER

TIME

Irish bantamweight Kurt

Walker is delighted with

his triumph at Minsk 2019

‘PETER

McGRAIL IS

ALWAYS GOING

TO BE A HARD

FIGHT NO

MATTER WHAT’