The Welsh boxing scene is currently in a very good place. Nathan Cleverly flies the flag and behind him are many good contenders like Gavin Rees and Lee Selby. The sport in Wales looks to have a bright future with a lot of prospects starting out on the journey towards great success. The picks of the prospects are Lewis Rees and Liam Williams and the man featured in this interview, 24 year-old, lightweight Lance Sheehan.
Sheehan is currently 2-0, with 1 KO and hails from Aberdare, South Wales. He lives with his partner Trudy and recently became a father to Jacob. He is trained by Paul Paveldish at Mountain Ash Boxing Club in the Welsh Valleys, and is managed and promoted by Steve ‘Sammy’ Sims.
At 5’11″, he is natural counter puncher, fighting out of the orthodox stance. A boxer that can ‘mix it up’.
As an amateur, he had approximately 70 fights and competed in the Four Nations, winning gold. He also competed in the European Championships in Lithuania. Lance prefers professional boxing to amateur. “I prefer with ‘pro’ that you get to do more of your own thing, without the referee jumping in. You’ve got more time to get into the fight, with more rounds.
“I took up boxing when I was nine years old, and started at Hirwaun YMCA. I had a friend that was boxing, and I decided to go with him one day and it just went from there. I had my first fight when I was 10.”
Lance’s next fight will be in his hometown of Aberdare on 4th February, against Dan Ward. Ward is a durable journeyman, who is coming off a stoppage win. Sheehan is getting quality sparring in preparation. “I normally try to get two to three weeks of hard sparring before a fight. I have been sparring with Nathan King, Kerri Hope and Nathan Cleverly.”
Thoughts on his next opponent? “My next opponent is Dan Carr, I don’t know much about him but I have seen one or two of his fights on YouTube, and he seems to struggle a lot when people pressure him. He doesn’t know how to box on the back foot.”
In his last fight he scored a first round stoppage win over debutant Ray Akhtar. Lance’s last fight was at the same venue (Sobell Sports Centre) and was a stoppage win. So, how was the experience? “I felt really good because it was in my home town. I think you will see a lot more knockouts from me.”
I asked Lance how he saw the next year and beyond. “I would like to get a fight in about every six to eight weeks. Hopefully by the end of the year, I’d like the chance to, fight for a Welsh title. I think its going to be a good year for me.”
On fighting for a British title? “I’d like to get a bit more experience behind myself first, but I would like to think the middle or to the end of 2013.”
Who does he rated as the number one in the lightweight division? “I think Juan Manuel Marquez is a fantastic boxer all round.”
The scene in Wales looks to have recovered from the departure of its main star, Joe Calzaghe and the next few years promise to be exciting for the fans.
Lance Sheehan is certainly a fighter to watch, as he makes his way up the rankings.
