Shane Curran is no stranger to success. In April the Enniskillen boxer captured the Ulster Heavyweight title. And he is not resting on his laurels. He wants to defend his title next year, win an Irish title and also secure a place for the 2010 Commonwealth games in India.
But back to the future in a few paragraphs.
Curran was our unanimous winner in April for his annexing, for the second time, of the Ulster heavyweight title for the 24 year old. The last win was when in 2002 when he was an 18 year old.
"It was nice to win it back this year, especially after taking a year last year out to concentrate on my finals."
During his four years in Belfast Shane trained and on the odd occasion fought for the club. He trained with professionals on a daily basis. Bernard Dunne and Damian Kelly just two of the famous names who shared the gym with him.
Shane is a qualified Civil Engineer and hung up his gloves in 2007 in order to put all his efforts into graduating from university but with his degree in the bag it wasn't long before Shane climbed back into the ring.
After a gruelling training schedule which included six weeks of training six days a week Curran was in peak condition and it showed.
"I went to box in Middlesboro with the Holy Trinty club in Belfast and I was beaten there by Warren Bastier who is the ABA heavyweight champion in England. I knew I was not in my best condition after that fight so I decided to really train hard from then on."
And train hard he did. Friend and fellow boxer, Richard Dooris, took over the mantle as trainer and he worked his mate hard.
He shed the pounds and trimmed up and when he entered the ring he was ready to rumble as they say in the boxing world.
In the semi final he beat his Enniskillen clubmate, Sean Crudden, in a tense tactical fight by a single point, 15 -14.
"We knew each others styles very well and it was a difficult fight but one that I was glad just to get over it," Curran explained.
In the final he took on Belfast's John Paul Ray and won out more comfortably to reclaim the title. In all this was Curran's sixth final;
"I won it in 2002 and then lost in four consecutive finals before taking the year out. It was great to get it back though."
Boxing since he was eight Curran finds that he has now come full circle in terms of his boxing journey. Having trained under Kenny Bruce and Day Campbell Senior and Junior when he was a lad Curran is now returning the favour and coaching at the Enniskillen boxing club itself.
"It is something that me and Richard Dooris decided we would do at the start of the year. I have got so much out of boxing and have trained under some great guys like the two Davy's and Kenny and it is nice to give something back now. Thankfully it has been a big success and I would have to thank Richard and Robert Donaldson for all their help and support." Curran explained.
Indeed he has special thanks for all that Dooris has done for him over the year. A friend, fellow coach and trainer Curran, explains that he would not have achieved his goal this year without Richard's help.
"He is a family man and he runs a busy pub and he still found time to train me so I am really grateful for everything that he has done."
On the horizon for Shane is a few trips away with the Ireland team - Finland and Poland just two of the destinations pencilled in - but Curran's long term goal in the Commonwealth games in 2010.
"It is very difficult committing to the boxing at that level, especially when you live in Fermanagh and there is so much travelling involved but if I can keep things ticking over and keep training hard here then hopefully I can make it to the Commonwealth games in India."
More immediate for Curran is the Irish title next year.
"I haven't won it yet so it would be nice to get my hands on that but that is a little bit away yet."
Curran is a laid back character out of the ring. But six Ulster finals in seven years including two wins at the tender age of 24 shows that he is anything but laid back in the ring.
And with his sights firmly set on an Irish title and a place in the Commonwealth games few it seems that he will be around for a good few years to come.
