With massive years ahead for Carl Frampton and Irish amateur boxing's Class of 2016, the golden era of Irish professional pugilism may well be upon us.
After a stagnant period on this island since the Bernard Dunne and RTÉ era, the pro game is now hauling itself back out of obscurity, with red-hot prospects such as Jason Quigley, Paddy Barnes and Katie Taylor (as odd as it might seem to label the latter two 'prospects') finishing 2016 on a high.
The re-emergence of 'small-hall' promotional companies - often described as the life-blood of the sport - has offered a platform for some of Ireland's most prodigious talents to begin their pro journeys at home. An unholy racket has replaced the relative quiet of years past. Pro boxing is making noise again on these shores.
The aforementioned Quigley told us last month, days prior to his one-round destruction of Jorge Melendez:
You mark my words: This is going to be one of the biggest years in professional Irish boxing history. The talent that Irish boxing has is truly unbelievable, and we're going to make a statement.
While 'El Animal' has already made significant strides on America's west coast, a number of his compatriots back home are preparing for their own dives into the paid ranks. Here are nine exciting Irish boxers who will make their professional debuts in 2017.
Vladimir Belujsky
County: Cork
Weight: Middleweight
The Slovak Rebel has lived in Mitchelstown for the bones of a decade, and has had over 80 fights at Togher Boxing Club.
He had originally hoped to represent his native land at Rio but, despite beating the reigning Slovakian champion at Olympic Team Trials, he was snubbed by the SBF. As it would transpire, the fighter eventually chosen in his stead - already beaten by Belujsky - couldn't even attend Olympic qualifiers having violated anti-doping regulations.
The 21-year-old CIT student has in the past sparred his adopted county's finest pro middleweight in Spike O'Sullivan, who was impressed by the young upstart. Belujsky has signed with Assassin Promotions, and joins Spike and Noel Murphy - along with fellow Corkonian adoptees Mike Perez (pictured above) and Luis Garcia - in the pro ranks.
Dylan McDonagh
County: Dublin
Weight:Bantamweight
A highly-touted Thai boxer who formerly trained in John Kavanagh's Straight Blast Gym, McDonagh is the elder statesman on this list at the age of 31.
Last November, the Jobstown bantamweight won the inauguaral Semi-Pro Boxing Ireland card, which was run by undefeated Loughlinstown welterweight prospect Jay Byrne.
McDonagh has inked with Frank Stacey and his refurbished promotional company, It's A-Bout Boxing - which stemmed from FS Promotions which ran professional cards in Dublin last year.
The former SBG man will make his paid debut on It's A-Bout Boxing's first card of 2017, tentatively scheduled for late March or early April.
Lewis Crocker
2 KO's In 2days.. Just call me @MikeTyson pic.twitter.com/N6gb2hq9Av
— Lewis Crocker (@lewiscrocker1) September 13, 2015
County: Antrim
Weight: Welterweight
The Belfast phenomenon has been widely tipped as a second incarnation of Carl Frampton. Indeed, Frampton was among those to speak out in support of 'The Croc' when he was controversially overlooked by Northern Ireland selectors for the 2016 Commonwealth Games in Samoa, describing the 20-year-old as "the best kid in the country."
The nuclear-fisted 147-pounder's pro debut was originally scheduled for the Boxnation show at the Titanic Exhibition Centre on November 5th, which saw Paddy Barnes take the plunge into the pro ranks, but Crocker was forced to reluctantly withdraw after two surgeries on his nose.
The former amateur standout recently signed with Matthew Macklin's MGM, and left trainer John Breen to team up with 23-year-old coaching prodigy Ray Ginley at the Emerald club in Lenadoon. One of the hottest properties in Irish professional boxing, Crocker will make his much-anticipated debut in the coming months.
Seán McGlinchey
County:Derry
Weight:Super-middleweight
Fighting out of Brandywell club, Oak Leaf ABC, McGlinchey surprised everyone but himself by capturing Commonwealth bronze in 2014.
His medal in Glasgow was sandwiched between two difficult years at home; McGlinchey missed the Irish Seniors in both 2014 and 2015 due to unfortunately-timed bouts with illness.
The 25-year-old Creggan man did countless rounds of sparring with hard-hitting professionals such as Steve Collins Jr and Eamonn O'Kane throughout his amateur career - the latter in the lead-up to O'Kane's IBF World title eliminator with Tureano Johnson.
Talented southpaw McGlinchey, for whom O'Kane was full of praise following some hellish sparring, turns professional at super-middleweight. He may, however, end up being shredded down to middleweight by trainer Glenn McCrory, a former world champion and popular Sky Sports pundit, despite campaigning as at light-heavy in the vested ranks.
Dylan Moran
County: Waterford
Weight: Welterweight
The 22-year-old is the fighter on this list with a background in martial arts.
Moran boxed in his youth before turning to kickboxing in his teens - winning an incredible seven national titles and three world titles, as well as Four Nations and European honours, in the latter.
Signed to Kieran Farrell's ever-growing professional stable in Manchester, the all-action Dungarvan man will debut in the same city in April, before likely making his Irish debut in Belfast towards the end of the year.
Expect fireworks.
Regan Buckley
County: Wicklow
Weight: Bantamweight
Another It's A-Bout Boxing recruit.
Disillusioned with the amateur ranks at the age of just 19, two-time national Senior champion and 2016 runner-up Regan Buckley announced his intention to turn professional at the turn of the year.
Such is his pedigree and talent, he was snapped up almost immediately by Frank Stacey and co.
The former St. Theresa's man is the latest of the Bray boxing contingent to turn professional, and like Joyce and McDonagh, will be looking to debut on It's A-Bout's first card of the year in March or April.
Seán Magee
County: Antrim
Weight: Super-featherweight/Lightweight
The latest of the Magee boxing dynasty to turn professional, Seán is a nephew of Eamonn, Terry and Noel - the first of whom being the former two-time Commonwealth champion who dropped Ricky Hatton en route to a decision defeat in 2002.
Seán picked up Antrim and Ulster titles during his 80-odd amateur contests, and now 27, has fulfilled a long-held ambition to turn professional.
Having signed with Kieran Farrell's increasingly Irish stable in Manchester, Magee will train under uncle Eamonn and the legendary John Breen in Breen's Gym, Belfast - a formidable duo as the younger Magee eyes titles in the not-too-distant future.
John Joyce
County: Dublin
Weight: Welterweight
Lucan's 30-year-old Joyce is a late-comer to boxing in general. A member of the Irish Defence Forces, he first laced up the gloves only as recently as four years ago.
"I am in the army so I had to do six months with recruits then I got married so I only really got fully focused on it after my honeymoon in August," he told Irish-boxing.com in an interview last week.
Joyce teamed up with Tony Davitt in 2016 and received his pro licence just last week. Like Dylan McDonagh above, the body-snatching Dub has signed with Frank Stacey and It's A-Bout Boxing, and is expected to make his professional bow in the spring.
Michael Conlan
County: Antrim
Weight: Super-bantamweight
Having signed with Bob Arum and Top Rank for the most lucrative fee in the history of Irish boxing, Conlan's professional odyssey begins Stateside on St. Patrick's Day, when he headlines a TR card in 'The Theatre' at New York's Madison Square Garden.
The former world amateur champion and Olympic bronze medallist will, as Darragh Bambrick's training video above portrays nicely, team up with his old Irish teammate Jason Quigley in The Rock Gym, Carson, California.
There, he will train under the esteemed Manny Robles who, like Top Rank and Irish boxing fans and writers alike, predicts Conlan will reach the pinnacle of his craft. Indeed, Top Rank want him to become the face of it in America and beyond. Thankfully, the Falls Road man is contractually guaranteed to fight back in Ireland at least once a year.
Additional reporting by Joe O'Neill of Irish-boxing.com.
