Cathal McLaughlin wants a knockout reel on pro debut

Cathal McLaughlin makes his professional boxing debut this weekend – and wants to land a highlights reel to mark the occasion.

McLaughlin has quite the show to duck through the ropes for the first time as a pro.

The Raphoe Boxing Club graduate, the 2023 Irish Senior middleweight champion, is slated for a four-round middleweight contest at the SSE Arena on Saturday night as part of a Conlan Boxing card.

McLaughlin will be managed by Sheer Sports and guided by Jason Quigley, the Sheer-managed boxer who fought for the WBO World Middleweight title in 2021.

“Not many people get to make their debut at the SSE Arena,” McLaughlin says. “It was a big shock when it all happened and I realised I would be making my debut there. It's a brilliant card to be on too – I'm looking forward to getting my fight done and watching the rest of the fights.”

As a young teen, McLaughlin travelled to the SSE Arena to watch Wrestle Mania, cheering on such icons as John Cena and Batista.

Now, he has a chance to shine himself.

McLaughlin got a taste of the pro stage in November. As part of the Rumble In The Hills card at the Aura Leisure Complex in Letterkenny, headlined by Joe Ward's second round stoppage of Prince Oko Nartey, McLaughlin fought an exhibition.

The four two-minute round dance with Cody Lee Peoples from Flow Academy was an experience McLaughlin clearly enjoyed. In many respects, it was as good as a pro debut for the Strabane man.

He says: “The show in Letterkenny gave me a feel for the walk-out, the interviews, everything around the fight.

“The SSE is a lot bigger, but it does mean that I know what to expect. I think I will actually be more relaxed this time.”

McLaughlin has sparred with Peter Clarke from Errigal Boxing Club and has also done several rounds with Quigley.

“It's not too often your manager can jump in and beat the head off you,” McLaughlin laughs. “It's class to have Jason. He has been right to the top of the sport. He has been one of most popular boxers Ireland has had and it's unreal to have him around.”

Raphoe Boxing Club Head Coach Gary McCullagh and Raphoe BC coach Gerard Keaveney will corner McLaughlin and take him through his pro journey.

The 27-year-old says: “I've known Gary for over 10 years. There is nobody better to coach me. The boys know everything I do good and do wrong.”

Cathal McLaughlin with coach Gary McCullagh

In 2022, McLaughlin felt peeved about some decisions in boxing and took a sidestep to kickboxing. He competed at the GCO/WKU World Championships in Cardiff that year and won the 75kgs category.

McLaughlin, then training out of the Strabane Martial Arts Academy, overcame Samir Zayni from Lebanon to take gold.

“The guy (Zayni) nearly knocked me out with a flying knee, but I won the fight,” McLaughlin recalls.

When he stepped back through the Raphoe Boxing Club's doors with the summertime of 2023 looming large, McLaughlin had no notion of lacing up the boxing gloves again.

“I was just planning to get into shape for a holiday at the start,” he says. “I was only back for two or three months when I won the senior title. I just started sparring and then when I won a couple of fights on local shows I just said to myself: 'One last chance at an Irish Championship'.

“Winning that Irish title was so big for me. I got myself super fit and ended up winning them.”

In the Irish Senior Championships – the former National Intermediate Championships – McLaughlin began with wins over Ola Wahab (Midleton) and Peter Convery (St John’s, Derry) before disposing of Mulhuddart’s Richard O’Leary in a 75kgs semi-final.

He was very much the underdog for the middleweight final. Ballyboughal's TJ King was the reigning Irish U22 champion and added a Celtic Box Cup gold along the way.

When the sums were totted, McLaughlin took victory, his hand raised after a 4-1 split decision.

“I had been in and out of boxing for a while - life sort of gets in the way at times – but it was brilliant, absolutely brilliant, to come back and win an Irish title, something I dreamed about for so long,” McLaughlin says.

McLaughlin works now selling and renting card terminals for businesses. He studied business at university in Liverpool and 'got fed up' after he 'partied away' during an earlier spell out of the ring.

Saturday's is a bumper card in Belfast and McLaughlin is one of five boxers – alongside Jack O'Neill, Gary Arthurs, Teo Alin and Gareth Dowling – making their debut.

The card features some possible crackers, not least the BUI Celtic super-bantamweight title clash of Ruadhan Farrell and Gerard Hughes.

The rising Kurt Walker, as well as Caoimhin Agyarko and Tyrone McKenna are all on the bill.

It is a perfect stage for McLaughlin.

“I want to keep active and keep fighting now,” he says.

“I want to enjoy being a pro and just see how far I can take it. I have a good support built up already and it's great to have that support.

“I do want a knockout. I'd love a highlight reel, but sometimes when you go looking for a knockout it doesn't happen either.

“Winning is the main thing, but obviously I want to look good. I want to get a couple of fights in good and quick first and then I'll take a look at what titles are there.”