8CN Interview: Irish amateur standout Jamie Kavanagh

8CN ran into Irish amateur standout Jamie Kavanagh at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. Kavanagh has won 7 Irish national championships and he has over 180 amateur fights on his resume. Jamie currently trains at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.  He has caught the eye of the great Freddie Roach, and is certainly a young fighter that the boxing world will hear of soon.  Kavanagh took a few minutes of his time to talk to 8CN and gave us an update on his young career.

8CN - Jamie you are training along side Manny Pacquiao and working the pads with Freddie Roach.  Talk about what this experience has done for you.

JK - Oh it's been a great experience.  Not everybody gets to get in a couple of rounds with Manny Pacquiao and to work the pads with Freddie Roach.  This is all new to me, so I am just trying to take it all in and pick it all up little by little.

8CN - Talk about your amateur background.

JK - I have 180 amateur fights with 12 defeats. I still waiting to make my pro debut. I have seven Irish national titles, eight regional titles, a silver in the world championships, and a three multi national gold medals, and a few silver medals.

8CN - How did you get hooked up with Freddie Roach?

JK - I have a friend, Dean Byrne who isn't hear right now but he trains with Freddie.  Just through him, he used to train in my gym back home.  I got the chance to come here to the Wild Card.  I took my chance.

8CN - There have been some great Irish Champions that have come through the Wild Card Gym. Do you put any pressure on your shoulders to go on and represent Ireland like say Wayne McCullough has?

JK - Yea I do, a little bit.  Freddie has trained a lot of great Irish fighters, McCullough, Ben Dunne.  He's looked upon in Ireland as a great trainer even around the world, so hopefully he can do it for me too.

8CN - When do you want to make your pro debut?

JK - Hopefully in April.  We are in talks with promoters at the moment.

8CN - What is the biggest thing that Freddie has taught you so far?

JK - Freddie is a simple guy, he likes to keep things simple.  When he works the pads with me he slows everything down.  He teaches, and everything stick in my head.

8CN - Give me some closing thoughts.

JK - I am hoping to make a name for myself in the USA.  Hopefully everything will go like planned.