It’s only an eight-rounder, albeit against a once-beaten opponent named Kyle Lomotey. But in the scheme of things, Connor “The Kid” Coyle’s fight at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley, England, this Saturday could be the most pivotal of his eight-year professional career.
The de facto top contender in the World Boxing Association [WBA], Coyle could remain on track for a shot at the WBA middleweight title by the end of the year if – as expected – he gets past Lomotey on the Sky Sports televised show.
“I know nothing about Kyle Lomotey, I just know his record [is] at 12-1, and he’s a southpaw,” Coyle told the Echo from his Florida training camp last weekend.
“I haven't watched much of him, I haven't heard much of him, but I just know that my training camp went extremely well,” the undefeated Derryman [20-0, 9 KOs] added. “I've had the best sparring, six hard weeks of sparring nonstop. Am in the best shape I’ve ever been in my life.
“I put the hard work in. Eight weeks away from home, away from the kids, away from all distractions, so I'm ready for anybody. It wouldn’t have mattered who I was stepping in the ring with on August third. I will be ready for anybody.”
On the limited rounds he signed for, Coyle, who’s 34, explained: “We were training for a 10 or 12 round fight -- anything that we could have got. But this fight, because it was short notice on getting an opponent, it's only going to be an eight-round fight. But I haven't fought since last August, [2023] so I accepted it, and we’ll take it to get the ball rolling again. We’ll take eight rounds and look good on Sky Sports.”
It will be his first professional fight ever in Britain and his first in Europe since he outpointed Miguel Aguilar over four rounds at Dublin’s National Stadium in February 2017.
“I just like to thank my team Jim [McLoughlin], Jody [Caliguire] and John V. for everything that they've done in securing this fight for me, and this opportunity to fight closer to home, for the fans at home as well. So, I just want to give a shout out to them and my coach back home Cahir Duffy.” He also had props for John Cooley.
SHEA RETURNS
On Aug. 9 [Aug. 10 rain date], two-time, two-division world champion Maureen “The Real Million Dollar Baby” Shea [30-2-1, 13 KOs] returns to the ring for the first time in more than two years on the “Punch-Out at Polar Park II” card, at Polar Park in Worcester, Massachusetts.
A former World Boxing Council [WBC] interim world featherweight champion and International Boxing Association (IBF) bantamweight titlist, Shea faces the Slovakian Beata Dudek [4-2, 4 KOs], who fights out of Hungary.
The card is presented by Shearns Boxing Promotions (SBP) in conjunction with Kendrick Ball’s Camp Get Right Boxing. It will be streamed live on www.bxngtv.com.
Of Irish and Mexican parentage, Shea who’s 43, is a 17-year pro. She’s riding an 18-fight unbeaten streak with 17 victories and one draw.
“I’m better than ever,” she said. “I have a balanced life, so why not fight? It’s not about proving myself. I have experience and I’m strong, I love this sport and I’m following the path. I’m going to give it a good run and hopefully I’ll get another world title fight. I’m at peace in my life.”
The Bronx native now lives in Delray Beach, Florida, where she’s a strength and conditioning coach at DS Boxing in Boca Raton.
Tickets for the “Punch-Out at Polar Park II” card are available at Polar Park’s box office [508.500.888] and online at www.polarpark.com/boxing.
