PHOTOS:
Micky working hard in the gym
Micky wins well at Letterston
Micky receives his 'Best Bout' medal from John Phillips
 

 
If hard work and total commitment to a sporting cause are anything to go by then 15 year old Mickey McDonagh is already well down the road to success.
Mickey boxes at Merlins Bridge Amateur Boxing Club, trains six times a week to maintain his full fitness and is already four-times Welsh Junior boxing champion in as many years.
 
Not only that, but Mickey is described by current coach Graham Brockway at Merlins Bridge ABC as someone who is,
“An inspirational figure to other eager young boxers because he is always looking to improve his skills by listening to, and putting into action, what we ask of him.”

 
High praise and mutual respect

 
High praise indeed from a former top amateur boxer whose promising pro career was ruined by an industrial accident to his hand before he took up kick boxing and became a revered four-time world champion at different weights.
 
The mutual respect is evident because in the gym Mickey is like a sponge, working so hard to build on his skills on the front foot and in defence – so small wonder that he gained his fourth successive Welsh crown in February when he outboxed Aaron Roberts from North Wales.
“Mickey was on top form that night,” said Graham, “as he won a unanimous points decision, getting on top from the start and making sure he stayed there until the final bell.”
 

Early start at Pembroke

 
Mickey started out training as an eight year old under Ralph Gammer, Andy Edmondson and Nathan Probert at Pembroke ABC and is full of praise for the help he received there. Since then he has lost only seven of his 34 contests, no mean feat in amateur boxing where vociferous home support has occasionally been known to swing a verdict in a very close bout.
Mickey actually lost his first bout against Corey Milward of the Premier ABC in Swansea.
“I was only 10 and very nervous before the start,” admitted Mickey, “but it was over in what seemed like seconds.
“When I heard Corey’s name announced as the winner by just one point I was gutted – but it just made me all the more determined to improve and beat him next time.”
 
And beat Corey he did in a rematch to show that hard work can pay off – but there was soon to be another set-back because after reaching the Welsh semi-finals he broke his arm and had to withdraw.

 
First Welsh title at 11 – and every year since

 
But he was back the following year as an 11 year old and after reaching the final he made sure of his first Welsh vest by beating Luke Higgins of Baglan Bulldogs.
“It was a huge thrill when the referee raised my hand as the winner,” Mickey told us, “and I will never forget that moment.”
 
Since then he has added another title each year to his impressively growing list, with further final wins against Alfie Stotter (Merlins Bridge), Joshua Hartley (Prince of Wales, Cardiff) and now Aaron Roberts. He now has another challenge because he has to take on another Welsh champion in Clayton Cook (Splott, Cardiff) to see which boxer goes to the British finals later this year.
 

Tough training indeed!

 
He travels from Pennar to Merlins Bridge four times a week and they all include a tough warm-up session that involves a mixture of skipping and ‘Ton-Ups’ (a mixture of 100 sit ups, press ups and other tortured included by Mr Brockway!). Then there’s work on the heavy bags and on the pads with ‘Jenksy’, followed by strong sparring with one of the other talented young boxers involved.
 
There’s a four-mile run at home on a couple of evenings around Pennar which take in the notoriously steep Llanreath Hill – and sometimes a trot across the dunes at Freshwater East and up the tortuous hill out of there. But the special ‘treat’ is the weekly 45-minute session of running up and down the steps near the ‘Bristol Trader’ in Haverfordwest. He boxes two-minute rounds and so his current challenge is to run up the steps twice in that time – and down once – Phew!
 

Family support for an ‘Elite’ boxer

 
In doing all this Mickey has the total support of his parents John and Lizzy McDonagh, his four sisters and three brothers, who turn out to cheer him on at home shows.
“Dad and mum always come,” said Mickey, “although mum is terrified until I’m safely out of the ring.”
 
His efforts have certainly paid off so far because Mickey is a member of the 14-strong Welsh Elite junior squad which means he has to travel to the National Institute for Sport  in Cardiff for monthly training sessions. They are there from Friday until Sunday afternoon and are really put through their paces with running sessions at 7am, followed by sparring at 10am, work on bags and pads at 4pm and strength and conditioning at 7pm. Their head coach is Colin Jones, who is famous for his boxing exploits at amateur and professional levels.
 
And finally . . .
 
Ask Mickey about ambitions and he would be quick to list winning a British title after missing out by just a whisker against Jimmy McDonagh (no relation!) in the final last year in Warrington.
“I would also like to win a senior title and go to the 20/20 Olympics,” admitted Mickey, “and I know Graham Brockway will help me as far as I can go.
“If I don’t get there, and then turn professional, it won’t be for lack of effort because I know what I want and I’m ready to work hard to get there.”
 
There is no doubt that Mickey McDonagh is not only a modest and pleasant young man but a very committed one, too, and we wish him every success in achieving his boxing dreams!