Pupil Feature: Conor Wallace - Master of the Ring
Thanks to S4 pupil JamesÓg O Hanlon for writing this fantastic account on our brilliant boxer Conor Wallace:
Conor Wallace, an S3 student here in St Colman’s college, has already achieved 2 All-Ireland titles and representedIrelandin international competition. His raw talent and wide success have seen him develop a reputation as one ofIreland’s top junior boxers.
Initially, the only sport Conor played was football for Newry Bosco GFC. His decision to box was only to fill the summer hours and he began training at Sacred Heart Boxing Club on account of his grandmother knowing local coach Seamus McCormick. Aged just 10 at the time, Conor had to wait a year before being eligible for competition. He was met with instant success as in his first year of competition Conor secured the All-Ireland title in the Boy 1 competition.
Conor continued to thrive in completion with growing dedication the sport, winning two furtherUlstertitles before progressing to the All-Ireland final each time. His next All-Ireland title came at age 15 in the Youth 1 competition. It was this victory that allowed Conor to fight abroad for the first time, participating in a boxing dinner show inFlorida. It was also this victory that motivated him to fully commit to boxing. He decided to leave Newry Bosco’s as a result, having being told by his coach that he had the ability to one day win the All-Ireland senior title.
These titles and foreign trips are only the result of a continuous and rigorous training regime. In the lead up to championship seasons Conor runs 3 miles each morning before school. He states the importance of maintaining a high pace as at amateur level rounds last 2-3 minutes, and footwork has to be fast and sharp. Training then continues after school each day, with an intense 2 hours each weekday at Sacred Heart club. His training is constantly mixed to ensure that he is consistently improving and pushing his limits, 3 days being devoted to boxing and 2 nights concentrating on strength and conditioning. At the weekends? Well, there is no reprieve there as every Saturday Conor travels toDublinfor 4 hours intensive training at the Irish Amateur Boxing Association headquarters in the National Stadium,Dublin.
When asked to state his greatest achievement and disappointment in boxing thus far, he listed representingIrelandinternationally at the Veles Cup inRussiafor both. The Veles Cup is an international competition held annually in July, pitting the leading junior boxers from countries across the globe against each other.Unfortunately, Conor’s participation in the Veles Cup was not as successful as his previous ventures. Whilst training at Sacred Heart club, Conor injured his left wrist. He realised the injury was more serious whilst training inDublinduring preparations for his departure toRussia. Attempts to rest and heal the wrist in time for the completion proved unsuccessful. While sparring with the top Russian junior Conor the wrist fractured, plus substantial tearing of tendons and ligaments also occurred.
Despite his injury and not wanting the waste the hours of training working towards this experience, Conor decided to remain in competition. With his left hand rendered useless Conor initially drew with the top American junior before losing on a count-back. Two further clashes with the top Russian and top German resulted in narrow defeats 7-5 and 10-8 respectively. At this stage doctors forced Conor to withdraw before permanent damage was done to the wrist.
Even though Conor’s performance in the Veles Cup was frustrated by injury he still regards representingIrelandin an international competition as his greatest achievement.He considers the opportunity of fighting the world’s bet junior boxes and the advice from the world’s leading coaches as having provided invaluable experience.