AROUND 10pm tonight, Mundy and Sharon Shannon’s rendition of Galway Girl will be blasted out over the sound system as local lad Kieran Molloy enters the ring at Leisureland in Salthill.

Billed as ‘Galway Rising’, and a homecoming for the former Oughterard Boxing Club talent who turned pro last year, Molloy’s bout against Columbian Fernando Mosquera is a sell-out in the 1,000 capacity venue.

Such was the interest in the first professional fight in Galway City in over 20 years, all tickets were snapped-up within three hours of going on sale. The promoters could’ve sold more than three times the capacity and at one stage they reported 600 people on a waiting list, with many willing to pay over face value to get a seat ringside.

That’s the buzz that surrounds Molloy’s fifth fight as a professional boxer, first professional bout in his hometown and first eight-rounder.

Interestingly, Molloy (24) is the first professional boxer to fight in the Republic of Ireland at an event promoted by Top Rank since 1972 when ‘The Greatest’ Mohammad Ali boxed in Croke Park.

Molloy’s corner, which includes manager Jamie Conlan of Conlan Boxing, point to this as a huge vote of confidence in his potential.

They plan to return to Galway later this year at a larger venue, and the dream is a world title fight for the welterweight within the next four years . . . possibly at Pearse Stadium.

Molloy’s 29-year-old opponent tonight has won six of his nine professional bouts to date but is unlikely to spoil the party in Salthill.

Molloy is a southpaw, who mostly boxes on the front foot but is also a strong counter-puncher. He has had vast experience at amateur level, and can adapt to any style of fighting. His biggest attribute is the power that his punch packs.

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

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