Former Irish Olympic silver medallist John Joe Nevin completed his long awaited return to professional boxing over the weekend, with the Westmeath man overcoming local fighter Jose Hernandez Flores in Mexico.
Having gone five years without a professional bout, there had been some doubts about Nevin's future in the sport. However, he confirmed earlier this year on The Rocky Road podcast that he was intent on making a comeback.
He fulfilled that promise last night, with the 35-year old moving to a professional record of 15-0 after a split decision victory.
It's a win for Nevin
John Joe Nevin moves to 15-0 as a pro with a points win over Jose Hernandez Flores in Mexico in the early hours of the morning pic.twitter.com/g1HiKF9X9q— Boxing Tickets NI (@BoxingTicketsNI) August 18, 2024
With his comeback now complete, Nevin has some big ambitions for the future.
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Irish Olympic Star Has Big Ambitions After Hiatus From Pro Boxing
At 35-years old, it is likely that John Joe Nevin does not have a whole of time left to compete at the highest level of boxing. We are now 12 years removed from his silver medal at the 2012 Olympics, with the fighter looking like he had a huge career ahead of him after claiming that prize at just 22-years old.
He would turn professional a year later, and while he remains undefeated as a pro, he has not had the type of success he would have hoped for. Still, he is happy to be back performing in the ring.
Speaking after the fight, Nevin said he was delighted to get the victory and admitted that he is even aiming as high as a world title fight in the future.
Right, that's the comeback completed.
It wasn't my best performance but wasn't expecting to be world title material after 4.5 years absent from the ring.
A tough six rounds off a tough, hard, baldy Mexican! Delighted with the win and delighted I didn't get things easy as what I wanted.
I hurt my wrist in first round off his head, then hurt the shoulder next round.
Things wasn't going my way but you struggle through it to get the win. Thanks be to God me and my opponent walked away healthy from the right.
I’m delighted to be back and will have news on my next fight in the next couple of weeks, will go back and get this shoulder seen to and we go again...
Hopefully ye follow me on my journey in search of that world title I deserve, now 15-0 can't be far off now, three or four more please God.
John Joe Nevin will be hoping that there is not quite such a gap before his next fight, having spent almost five years out of the ring prior to this bout in Mexico.
He certainly seems intent on making the most of what is left of his career over the coming years.
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