Another world title could be on its way to Ireland by the end of the week.
Christina McMahon is currently flying the flag for Ireland’s female boxers in the professional arena and she is set for a shot at the interim WBC Gold bantamweight title on Saturday night.
Although excited about the prospect of fighting on the biggest stage, McMahon will have to travel over 5,000 miles for the bout as she takes on Zambia’s Catherine Phiri in Lusaka.
We got the chance to speak to Lightning as she upped her preparation for the fight and her passion for the sport was clear in every word.
“I do know Catherine a bit,” Christina said. “I know what she brings to the table but I feel totally prepared for the fight. I wouldn’t take any fight that I didn’t think I had the chance to win and I’m always confident in my own abilities. As a fighter, sometimes that’s all you have.”
Christina was announced as Phiri’s challenger when the Zambian fighter’s original opponent Jessica Gonzalez withdrew from the fight.
“I’m absolutely thrilled at the shot,” the Monaghan fighter said. “When an opportunity like this comes along. You have to grab it with both hands. Obviously it’s going to be a tough fight, not only because of my opponent but other factors like the heat and humidity, which we’re not accustomed to at all, will take getting used to.”
McMahon boasts a professional record of 6-0 with three of her victories coming by way of knockout and, with her opponent also yet to face to defeat in the ring, one of the competitors will face the first blemish of their career come Sunday morning.
And while Phiri may have more fights under her belt than the Irish fighter, McMahon believes that she holds the experience advantage due to the fact that she’s been training in combat sports for almost 20 years.
“I started as a kickboxer and didn’t start that until I was around 20.
“It was the only real option 20 years ago because, back then, there was really no such thing as women’s boxing in Ireland but I did fall in love with it.
“I kind of stumbled into boxing to be honest,” she revealed. “My husband (Frick McMahon) just recommended that I give it a go to improve my kickboxing game, even if that meant I just sparred some of the lads.
“I prefer it, if I’m honest. It was getting harder and harder to get my feet off the floor [laughs].”
McMahon was 32 when she first took up boxing and, as successful as her amateur career was, its brevity is something that still irks at her.
“I fell in love with boxing but I was so late to the party that I could only get a few years of amateur experience under my belt because you can’t compete once you turn 35.
“My amateur career was brilliant though. In those few years I won seven fights including two internationals against Sweden and it was a bit of a no-brainer when my 35th birthday came around.
“I took some time off to reflect and then once 2010 hit, I decided to turn pro at Philip Sutcliffe’s Crumlin boxing club to which I had been introduced by Kickboxing Ireland coach Jimmy Upton.
“It’s been a tough journey but I’ve gone six fights undefeated since getting my pro licence so I must be doing something right.”
Over the years, Christina has had to endure the frustration of fights falling through due to opponents’ injuries and promoters’ lack of funds but she maintains that she is solely focused on the task at hand, which is Catherine Phiri on Saturday night.
“It hasn’t been ideal,” she said. “Only last month a fight I had scheduled for Berlin didn’t come about due an opponent withdrawing at the last minute but Catherine Phiri is what matters now.
“All the hard work has come to this and I know I’ve put in the effort to come away with the win.”
McMahon, who is coached by Sean and Paul McCullough in Belfast, claimed that she was never drawn by the prospect of getting into MMA, which is blowing up in Ireland at the minute with Irish females like Aisling Daly and Catherine Costigan.
“I was never tempted, if I’m honest. That’s not to say I don’t like it or respect mixed martial artists because I have nothing but respect for them but it’s just something I could never see myself doing.”
Christina has trained with some of the best coaches in Ireland, including Pete Taylor’s whose daughter has attained iconic status on the amateur scene. But Christina wouldn’t recommend that Katie Taylor take the leap into the professional arena.
“Ah she’d be mad,” Christina said. “In the nicest way possible of course. As an amateur she’s going to go down as one of the best sportspeople that Ireland have ever produced and I don’t think we’re going to see another one like Katie.
“And she has the whole support of Ireland behind her so I don’t see why she’d want to go into professional boxing.”
McMahon’s bout coincides with the most anticipated fight of this generation as Floyd Mayweather takes on Manny Pacquiao on the very same night, something that Lightning is well aware of.
“I know. That’s why I’m hoping to get the job done early so I might get the chance to see it.”
“I love Manny Pacquiao but I’ve always had a soft spot for Floyd Mayweather and I see him keeping his undefeated streak going. It’ll be a great fight and hopefully I’ll be watching it with my undefeated record intact.”
Christina McMahon takes on Catherine Phiri on Saturday 2 May from the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka. Stay tuned to SportsJOE for the result of the fight.
