Stephen Reynolds relishing his clash with Declan Trainor
By Terence Dooley
Sligo’s Stephen “Block” Reynolds may be 40 and only a year into his pro career yet the veteran fighter is confident that his considerable amateur experience will prove key when he meets Declain Trainor, 25, over eight-threes for the vacant Celtic Nations cruiserweight title at Belfast’s Devenish Complex on September 14.
Interestingly, Block, 2-0 (1), is guided by former BoxingScene correspondent Leonard Gunning, who is promoting the September 14th show, and the fight with Trainor, 2-0 (2), has already attracted plenty of local interest. This “Celtic Clash” follows on from Block’s second round TKO win over Lithuania’s Ruslan Bitarov in Dublin in November. Block floored his opponent four times in that one and he believes built on his first fight, a four-round decision win over Moses “The Black Mamba” Matovu in July 2012.
“I got a great start to the pro game but it all went quiet in the last six months due to shows being called off and quality opponents not being available, but that’s all changed now and I’ve got the biggest challenge of my boxing career ahead of me against Declan Trainor for the Celtic Nations belt," said the five time Irish amateur champion when speaking about the fight.
“My opening fight versus Matovu was a real eye opener to be honest. I knew the jump from amateur code to the pros was a big one and I learned on my debut not to underestimate these guys or it could be lights out.
“I knew what to expect when the Bitarov fight came around. We decided not to give him a second of peace, and to whip in the body shots from the first bell. Luckily we got some video of him from a contact in Europe and we knew he didn’t cope well with an assault to the body.
“The plan worked to perfection, but fair play to Bitarov because he was game and really came to win. He could’ve easily quit after he went down from the first knockdown, but he kept getting up and coming at me. It was over quickly but I trained hard for that fight because it was a step up in class and a step up from the four round to six round level. I’ll have to work even harder again for this fight in Belfast as its another step up to 8 rounds which leaves the door open for an Irish title shot then.”
He added: “I’ve watched a bit of Trainor on YouTube, he’s a ferocious all-action puncher with accurate hands and fast feet. He has won all his fights by first round knockout so I’ll have to have my wits about me from the opening bell. He started his pro career in Australia and stopped one of their champions in the first round. That was just Declan’s debut and is still the only fight that his opponent has ever lost, so you can imagine it sent a bit of a shock wave through the scene.”
Trainor returned home and thrilled his fans with first round demolition of Hungary’s Tamas Danko in March of this year, which took him to 2-0 and this knockout form has led many fans to mark him down as the favourite going into the meeting with Reynolds. Reynolds, though, is eager to make up for lost time and has asked his team to ensure his career moves apace.
“I know it’s a risky fight and a lot of people are making Trainor a favourite to beat me in Belfast, but I haven’t got the time to hang around and fight soft opponents,” said Reynolds. “At my stage I haven’t time to waste, I want the best in Ireland and I want them now. It’s a really evenly matched fight but I know my strength and experience will be enough to overcome Trainor’s speed and youth on the night.”
Leonard Gunning certainly doesn’t want to waste any time in his new role, either. His move from writer to manager to promoter has seen him pick up a lot of experience and he admitted that Block’s age has played a part in the decision to move him as quickly as possible.
“Stephen has been a revelation since turning pro,” said Gunning. “No one comes into a ring in better condition than Stephen and I know how hard he works to get himself in that shape. We know he hasn’t got another 10 or 15 years left in his career, like regular boxers who turn professional, so his acceleration through the ranks is on fast forward.
“It makes exciting viewing for the droves of supporters that travel from Sligo to watch his fights. This is a very risky fight for Stephen, he could have taken a much softer fight, or built his record up to 10-0, but he is always pushing for hard fights and now he has gotten his wish.”
The show features two other Celtic Nations title fight and rising talent from across Ireland including unbeaten fighters like Commonwealth Games gold medallist Paddy Gallagher, Ireland’s only female pro boxer Christina McMahon and Irish boxing’s ‘Prospect of the Year 2012’ Anthony Cacace with Daniel ‘Insane’ McShane, Joe Hillerby and the ‘Buncrana Banger’ John Hutchinson also bringing more quality to the show.
Tickets for Stephen’s bout at the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk on Saturday, range from £30 for unreserved seating and £45 for a ringside position. Return bus from Sligo for just €10.
Tickets are available in Sligo from Barton Smith Sports, the Adelaide Casino and Ballinacarrow Boxing Club. Alternatively call 087 858 9369 (RoI), 079 85 646 187 (NI) or visit www.boxing-ireland.com.
Follow Stephen on twitter at @BlockReynolds and @CelticClash for further details on the show.
Please send news and views to neckodeemus@hotmail.co.uk or Twitter @Terryboxing.
