Boxing Unwrapped: Exclusive Q&A with IBO World Champion Pádraig McCrory
Holly Lennon
The referee raised McCrory's arm at the end of a fight that earned him the IBO light-heavyweight World Title while the hypnotic chants of Irish fans took over the Frankfurt arena. McCrory defeated his German opponent in Fabriksporthalle, Leon Bunn's territory, dropping the man in rounds two, three, and ultimately in the sixth to gain the title, move to 15-0 (9 KO’s) and damage Bunn's previously spotless record.
McCrory's constant success and his familiar ‘about-the-road’ personality have enabled him to garner omnipresent support from fans. The cheering of "Oh Pody McCrory" is all-encompassing, and it becomes trance-like for those in the audience, even managing to dominate the German stadium.
I sat down with the man of the moment for an exclusive Q&A as he talks about the amazing support he receives, his fighter personality and his imminent return to the ring.
Are you aware of such support while in the ring?
McCrory knocked out Leon Bunn to become the IBO light heavyweight champion last month.
“From the beginning of my professional career, I've always had a great following and have become accustomed to the atmosphere it creates. I also use the same ring walk - The White Stripes, ‘Seven Nation Army’ - which ties in nicely with the 'Oh Pody McCrory' chant. I'm aware of the support and singing and I feel the energy from them, which definitely helps me dig deep at times when I'm in the ring.”
When provoked, McCrory's ability to ‘dig deep’ means he could take on a seven-nation army himself. His sobriquet, 'The Hammer', is undeniably accurate as the 34-year-old continues to smash each opponent, strike open doors, and with his recent title win, construct a path of new opportunities.
We often hear of fighters channelling an inner ego to drive their performance in the ring. Mike Tyson's 'Iron Mike', Marvin Hagler's 'inner monster' and Sugar Ray Leonard's 'the Street Fighter'. I'm interested in the analogy of ‘the dog inside’ that McCrory previously mentioned in an interview with the Irish News.
What are the benefits of having an alternative persona?
“The meaning behind ‘the dog in me’ is that I can find a new level when times get tough in the ring; I can dig deep and survive if need be. During training and sparring, you train yourself to remain calm and control your emotions. Remaining smart is something I have been working on in training. As an amateur athlete, I allowed my emotions to get the better of me. Therefore, remaining calm was always something I had to work on. I now train for all scenarios in the ring. That way, I am not surprised by what my opponent brings, and I fight my own fight.”
They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but anyone following McCrory's journey will disagree. In an interview with the Irish News, McCrory's manager Jamie Conlan states, "He's getting better with age", which raises the question of what to expect next from the St James' fighter.
When will you return to regimental training?
“I took a week off and got back to training because I've another fight arranged. I would usually take two weeks off and let the body fully recover.”
We hope to see McCrory fit one more fight into 2022 to defend his title on December 10 at Belfast's SSE Arena on Michael Conlan's undercard.
Holly Lennon is an MA Literary Studies student and a Boxing Columnist for The Scoop