Derry teenager crowned Irish champion

A Derry teenager was crowned an Irish boxing champion.

Josh Cairns, who fights out of Oakleaf Boxing Club, claimed the Boy 4, 42-kilo title in Dublin during the weekend of March 22.

It was a satisfying title for Cairns to claim after losing in last year's final.

Over the last year, Cairns has knuckled down with his coaches to earn the opportunity to compete in this year's final and to claim the title.

Eugene O’Kane, one of his coaches at Oakleaf, said: “It was the coaches probably getting him to believe in himself, to believe in his ability.

“He had a couple of very unlucky decisions against him in other fights. We thought he had won those fights, but we had to get him to put them behind him and keep the faith that everything would come good. 

“Having him in this right frame of mind was essential; it is nine tenths of a boxer, and down in Dublin at the weekend he was in that frame of mind; he knew what he had to do, and he was willing to follow instruction, and that brought about the victory.”

Cairns had to overcome four opponents on the way to claiming the title, with not one of them being straightforward.

The Lisneal College student had to work initially in the North West qualifiers before having to overcome an opponent in the Ulster final that previously defeated him on two occasions.

However, Cairns managed to secure the win in Deele College, Raphoe, to qualify for the finals in Dublin.

Cairns deserved to compete in the Irish capital due to the work rate he has constantly demonstrated since joining Oakleaf Boxing Club, according to his coaches.

O’Kane said: “You couldn’t ask for anybody better; sometimes you have to tell him to ease off a bit. He and his dad would go out on cycle runs most days. 

“He is a brilliant wee man in that way; he is superbly fit, and you have to tell him to ease off when it is coming up to championships, but we are delighted to have him in the club. I wish to God I had a lot more like him.”

The youthful Derry boxer would have to overcome two fighters from Galway to claim the crown.

Firstly, in the semi-final, he defeated a boxer from Titan in Galway, a boxer who had previously been an Irish champion.

O’Kane believed it was fitting Cairns would have to face a boxer, Michael Nevan, from Olympic in Galway in the final, the same club he suffered a defeat to last year.

He said: “Josh never allowed him to settle and was on top of him the whole time. 

“His work rate was superb throughout the three rounds, and it was amazing to think that at the end Josh had only won it on a three-two split decision. 

“Most people thought he clearly won the three rounds. His coaches, Chrissy Doherty and I, were absolutely delighted with his performance. 

“Young Joshua followed the instructions to the letter and did everything that was asked of him, and it was a well-deserved victory on the day.”

O’Kane believes this is only the start for Cairns in his boxing career, envisaging him having an incredibly fruitful future in the sport.

Cairns is set to next be in action at the Senior Cadet Championships in Dublin before O’Kane expects him to be named in the nine-man squad Oakleaf Boxing Club are taking to Stirling in Scotland to compete in the William Wallace Box Cup.

The success of Cairns has only added to the bright future of the Oakleaf Boxing Club, as they will soon move to a new premises at the Brandywell Sports Hub.

O’Kane said: “It is exciting times for us.

“Things are really looking up for Oakleaf Boxing Club. We had Carleigh Irvine, who went to the world championships in Serbia at only 19 years of age; she did us proud as things are looking up for us.”