Rising boxing star still on track for European glory

Talking Sport with Stephen Glennon

IT says something about the desire of Oughterard boxer Kieran Molloy that within six months of sustaining a cruciate injury he was back in the ring winning All-Ireland titles – so securing his qualification for the European Junior Boxing Championships taking place in Anapa, Russia this week.

Molloy looked to be on his way for a shot at the gold medal at the World Junior Boxing Championships in Kiev, Ukraine in September of last year until he twisted his knee late into the first round of his semi-final fight against Moldova’s Vladislav Tugal.

Unable to continue, he was forced to withdraw and had to settle for the bronze medal, which was a significant achievement in itself as he became the youngest boxer from Ireland to win a medal at a World championship event. It later transpired Molloy would have to replace his ACL.

“I was trying to go in for a punch and he moved,” recalled Kieran when Tribune Sport caught up with him and his father Stephen before they departed for Russia last week. “All my weight was on my front leg and it just twisted. I tried to get up but it was just too sore.”

Immediately, the Killanin teenager, then just 14 years old, knew it was serious and he admitted it was a distressing experience. “I had been doing well and I felt I could go all the way. So, it was a devastating blow.”

His father Stephen took up the story. “I knew there was something wrong when he didn’t get up. At that stage, we were fairly confident Kieran was going to win gold. He had the beating of the Moldovan even at that early stage and, you know, it was just a shock.”

While Moldovan Tugal lost the final to his Russian opponent, he did subsequently go on and win a European title in the interim. However, Molloy will have to wait for another time to set the record straight against these two fighters.

“I was only 14 at the time last year and they were a year older so I won’t meet them this time,” said Kieran, who later stated that he was unwilling to settle for anything less than gold at the Europeans this week. “That is what I am going for. I won’t settle for any other medal.”

That said, it was an achievement in itself to qualify for the championships this time round given where he has come from over the past year. An MRI scan had confirmed the cruciate injury and, with the consent of the Sports Council, he was directed to top surgeon Ray Moran.

He was operated on in early November – his appearance at the Europeans mark the anniversary of the procedure – and he was told to return six weeks later for his follow-up assessment. What occurred next was simply remarkable.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.