Rhys Owens went all silent disco as he registered his second win on the Devenish dance flooring on Saturday evening.
The Enniskillen fighter felt he bought caught up within the ambiance when securing a stoppage debut win within the autumn and made a aware effort to drown out the group on Belfast’s Bragging Rights card final weekend.
It meant the 24-year-old was extra classical music than heavy metallic as he prolonged his unbeaten begin to life within the execs.
Owen produced a mature, measured show towards a sturdy Mexican opponent who pressured him to remain affected person and suppose his manner via 4 aggressive rounds. Gone have been the debut-night nerves and the urge to entertain — changed as an alternative by management, composure, and clear punching.
“I stayed affected person and performed to my music as an alternative of taking part in to the group’s music,” Owen advised Irish-boxing.com after the struggle. “I pulled the set off on a number of proper fingers — I did damage him — however I simply stayed affected person.”
The younger prospect was happy along with his self-discipline, notably in comparison with his debut, when adrenaline and pleasure bought the higher of him.
“In my first struggle, I used to be type of taking part in to the group a bit,” he admitted. “I dropped Nikolai within the first spherical and went after him recklessly at instances. If I’m being ultra-critical, that’s one thing I needed to repair — and I did tonight.”
His second skilled outing noticed him examined by a difficult, switch-hitting opponent who refused to provide a lot away. The previous beginner of observe was made to regulate on the fly — one thing he dealt with with confidence.
“He was giving me nothing within the first spherical,” he mentioned. “I type of stood off him a bit and dropped my fingers — Sean [my coach] shouted at me, and I bought that out of my system fast. I landed loads of flush proper fingers. He switched southpaw a number of instances, overextended with the left, and I stepped again and caught him with the correct hook.
“He’s no mug,” he mentioned. “He is aware of his manner across the ring, and it was the proper opponent for me at this stage.”
Now 2-0, Owen says he’s prepared for no matter his staff, which incorporates Jason Quigley and Jamie Conlan has deliberate subsequent — however first, he’s trying ahead to having fun with a long-overdue Christmas off.
“It’s the primary time in 4 or 5 years I’ll have Christmas off,” he smiled. “As an beginner, I at all times had the Elites round December or January, so I by no means actually bought to calm down. I’ll prepare away however benefit from the holidays — have a correct dinner this 12 months with no turkey run!”
Nonetheless, don’t anticipate the Fermanagh fighter to change off fully, it’s not simply Turkey he needs to get caught into. “Put them in entrance of me — journeymen, prospects, anyone,” he mentioned. “If Jamie and Jason suppose it’s proper, I’m completely happy sufficient. I’ll get caught in.”
Picture Credit score Michael McCarthy
