A gentle stream of fellow fighters offer their condolences backstage as arena staff rapidly dismantle the ring. A fire alarm rages moronically in the background. It is over an hour since Ray Moylette was beaten on a split decision in his hometown but the Mayo man is still, literally, standing.
Moylette managed to recover from what seemed destined to be a shock premature end as Mexican Christian Uruzquieta floored ‘Sugar Ray’ twice in the fifth round. It was a showing of unbreakable bravery and a contest Irish boxing sorely needed, but that is little comfort to him right now. The WBC International Silver Lightweight title went to the visitor.
"Of course, I am disappointed with the decision," Moylette explains. His bottom lip is bloody and he gently caresses his right elbow, but pride will help overpower the punishment.
I have dreamt about this day for so long. But walking out there in front of 2,000 fans in my hometown was something that I couldn’t have anticipated. It was beyond expectations and it is something I will never forget. I will bring it to the grave with me.
I said I didn’t win the belt tonight but I took a lot more from this. The experience of walking out in front of all my family and friends. That is something so special. The belt at the end of the day would have added to it but I can’t take from what I felt there tonight.
The night's result is a serious setback but one that can be surpassed. Moylette matched the Mexican's skill with his own steel and that is a platform from which he can build moving forward.
"I got dropped in the fifth round and it wasn’t a major knockdown. It was a bit of fatigue and a combination of punches. I was on the floor and I said 'oh!' I didn’t know what was happening.
"But the energy of the room, the support, the roar, got me back up. He smelt blood and he jumped on me again. My legs were wobbly, there is no point denying that. I felt it again but there was no massive intent, it was being off balance and a bit ropey, the rush of everything.
"I got up and I moved again, Packie Collins calmed me down and got me back on track.
"If that happened in the gym there is no way I am getting up after the first one. Something deep inside got me back up and it was because of the people in the room that I did."
Tar éis deacaireachtaí i babhta 5, tá @raymoylette fós sa troid seo!
After 6 tough rounds Ray Moylette is still in the fight! @AssassinBoxing ar @TG4TV #tg4boxing pic.twitter.com/yDbXfMvcX6
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) December 7, 2018
There was an unmistakable aura in the arena on Friday night. An overwhelming sense of unity that the sport has sorely lacked in recent weeks.
That will, ultimately, be the event's legacy. Ray Moylette will certainly look to relaunch his own burgeoning career, but he has reawakened something behind that which is a momentous deed of service and he did it in front of his own people.
I went in there as proud as I could be to represent the people, not even just the Mayo anymore, the people of Ireland. They travelled from Manchester and Boston. They came to be part of this journey with me. I'm proud that people wanted to be here. I was in the ring on my own but I had thousands supporting me. You can't put that into words.
