Hyland a Celtic Warrior

THE Celtic Warrior Gym has a new recruit as Patrick “The Punisher” Hyland has joined forces with Paschal Collins’s highly successful gym in Blanchardstown.
The Tallaght fighter joins the likes of Stephen Ormond, Jono Carroll, Luke Keeler and more in the set-up and believes becoming a warrior will help his World Title quest this year.
The Lou DiBella promoted fighter and former WBA interim featherweight World Title challenger had been working with Tracey Patterson when in America as well his father, legendary Dublin trainer Patrick Hyland Snr, before his tragic passing last year.
“Honestly it was a big decision to take Paschal as my trainer and no work with Tracey who has been brilliant with me,” Hyland told irish-boxing.com.
“I am working full-time in Dublin at the moment. They have always been really good in letting me go out to America for about four weeks before my fights, but that wasn’t ideal or really fair on me or Tracey.
“I would be going out for a month spending a week getting reacquainted with him and used to him on the pads. That would give us only two weeks to work as you don’t do too much in fight week.”
Having spent time in the Celtic Warrior environment in the past while sparring with Clondalkin’s Stephen Ormond, the Punisher said he had settled in quite quickly to his new permanent surroundings.
“In fairness, I have been going over since 2008 and I know Packie [Collins] well. I have been surprised with how quick he has picked up on things with me.
“He noticed some faults Tracey and my Dad have been trying to iron out for a while and has me working on them.
“I think he will have me sitting down on my shots a little more and has tweaked things offensively and defensively.”
Hyland, whose record stands at 31-1, will contest his first fight on home soil since 2011 on February 6 on the Clash of the Clans card at the National Stadium. He’s delighted to be back and is targeting a big year afterwards.
“Lou still has plans for me, but for me getting on shows like this it’s just about keeping busy. It is just about fighting. I don’t mind not topping a bill.
“I am happy to fight down the card. Any shows in Dublin I just always said ‘get me on it’ just to keep busy.
“Now when I go and win something big in the States I would love to come home defend it and headline, but I am happy knowing Lou has plans for me and I can keep busy on a show like this. In saying that it is always great to fight at home in front of your own and I am buzzing.”