Name: Paddy McLaughlin
Club: Carndonagh
DOB: 19/08/1990
Fight Stats: 28 bouts 21 wins.

Paddy started boxing when he was 11 a very quiet easygoing lad with a very fast strong punch.  In his second year we decided to enter him in the Boy 2 Ulster Novice Championships.  He won 19 points to 14, with a few home tournaments.  We entered him into the Donegal Novices, however there was no match in Donegal for him the result a walkover.  Next was the Donegal Open, no problem there he won.  Our next task was to decide if the time was right to enter him into the qualifying stages for the National Championships, first round no problem winning his way through the North West, Next Step the Ulster Boys which he won 13 points to 4 against Charlie Carville was Pegasus.  Next stop the Nationals winning his next three fights, he was in the final against the reigning champion Keith Flaherty from Connamara.  Paddy was beaten 4 points to 10 he took it all in his stride.  A great achievement in only his second year in boxing Paddy is still boxing and training in the club as a Youth 2 at 63kgs and still winning titles.  As with every sport there is two sides to boxing the winning side and the non so lucky side.  Most of the articles you read are on the achievements of the winners, however, what about the so called loosers it takes a lot of guts to even train as a boxer, never mind getting into the ring and losing again and again, but these are the lads that turn up at training every night to improve, they never give in.  Sure they feel like it sometimes but pure grit, determination and love the sport keeps them going.  I as a coach in the Carndonagh ABC have seen unlucky lads turn out as exceptionally good boxers, some of them losing fights by that bigger margin I thought I would never see them in the ring again, but they proved me wrong, by being first at the door looking for a rematch which is something I never back from them because I knew they had guts and would prove me wrong again.  In my opinion you do not have to be a Grade A boxer to improve you just have to believe in yourself and eventually you day will come.  So as a coach I never give up on them to all boxers good luck in the future.

Date         Opponent                     Club                                     Result

16/10/03       J Coleman                               Notre Dome                                   W/pts

18/10/03      C Kane                                    Ligsiel                                             W/pts

11/11/03      P Doherty                                Carn                                                W/pts

23/11/03      L Brennan                                Hanwell                                           W/pts

28/01/04      P Doherty                                                                                        W/pts

21/03/04      D O’Donnell                             Ring                                                 W/pts

03/04/04      C Carville                                 Pegusus                                            W/pts

11/04/04      T Talbot                                   St Pauls                                             W/pts

17/04/04      K Flaherty                               Connamara                                         L/pts

20/04/04      R Dalton                                 St Agnes                                              L/pts

29/04/04      B Manning                              Clonars                                               W/pts

23/10/04      M Wilton                                 Eastside                                             W/pts

13/11/04      O Yirccup                              Finchley                                               W/pts

11/03/05      M McDermott                       Toone                                                   L/pts

24/03/05      M Morris                              Conway                                               W/pts

16/04/05      D Nevin                                Cevan                                                   L/pts

05/10/05      J Whirhouse                          St Joseph                                              L/pts

10/10/05     J Brecon                                Carn                                                     W/pts

18/11/05     C O’Donnell                          Illios GG                                               W/rsco

29/01/06     C Boyle                                                                                              L/pts

05/03/06     M Casey                               Championship                                        W/pts

05/03/06     P Cany                                 Championship                                         W/pts

03/10/06     J Torgue                                Drunore                                                 W/pts

03/12/06     D McNinty                            St Joseph                                                L/pts

17/01/07     F Conroy

04/02/07     F Conroy                                                                                            W/pts

13/02/07     M Twedy                                                                                            W/pts