European Youth middleweight champion Bobbi Flood looks a cert to be selected to represent Ireland at the Worlds, which glove off in Spain in November.
Indeed, the Irish co-captain is deemed a genuine medal hope and would be fancied to join Jamie Kavanagh [2008] on the short list of Dubs to step onto the podium at the prestigious underage tournament.
The Cabra BC teen moves to that next level full of confidence having retained his Irish title last month and having received some words of encouragement from some of Irish boxing’s top pros.
Flood has spent time in Ballyfermot sparring with Pete Taylor trained pros, where it wa said the youngster had performed admirably and suggesting g the 17-year-old had produced well above what was initially expected for someone so young.
When asked about the sparring session the humble fighter claimed it was a tough learning experience but one he enjoyed and revelled in.
He also points out that the likes of Tyrone McKenna, Sean McComb and Paul Ryan shared words so kind it boosted his confidence.
“I felt great in there, they are very tough lads it’s a different ball game in with them,” he said.
“They are stronger, they’ll walk you down and take your punches all day long. It’s great being up there and big thanks to Pete Taylor for letting me come up and spar with his boxers.
“It’s great experience. I can take a lot from it. They have a lot more experience than me and chatting to them after they said I’m one of the best amateurs they’ve had up there. I’m chuffed.”
Confidence was something Flood’s fellow Dub, fellow World Championship hopeful and co-captain at the European Youth Championships, Yasmin Meredith admits she had a real issue with of late.
After winning her seventh Irish title at the recent National Youth Championships, Meredith reflected on an ‘absolute mess’ of a Europeans in April.
A very honest Corinthians BC fighter admitted falling at the first hurdle affected her confidence to such a degree she doesn’t believe she would have retained her Irish title if she hadn’t got two good wins at a multi nations tournament.
“The Europeans was an absolute mess but you have to suck it up,” she said. “I can’t put the blame on anyone else, everyone else did as much as for me they could.
“I think I put a lot of pressure on myself. I think I had very high expectations. I should have gone in there and enjoyed myself and just perform to my best and the result would be what the result was.
“[Early defeat] was a tough thing to take but I did get over it and I went to the Golden Girls and picked up two very good wins. That was nerve-wracking to do but I got the win and I think it boosted me up.
“I wouldn’t have won the Irish final if I hadn’t had those fights. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to get in and do three three-minute rounds if I hadn’t had those wins.”
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