Fighting on the same programme as Olympic champion Katie Taylor isn't something that many boxers can boast, but at the weekend, Mitchelstown boxer Vladimir Belujsky tasted victory in the ring, as he faced a tough opponent at the Olympic Fight Night held in Cork city. The teenager was up against Gary Kennedy from Togher Boxing Club on the same night as Katie Taylor's fight was the main event on the bill in the Rochestown Park Hotel.

While many boxers had been preparing for the big night for months, when they would get to grace the same ring as Katie, for Vladimir it was something he heard about at the last minute and simply couldn't refuse.

Last year, The Avondhu featured Vladimir's story for the first time when he went to New York to box as part of the Irish Selection team. The young fighter spoke of his dreams to compete in the 2016 Olympics and to possibly go professional with his career.

SHORT NOTICE

Originally from Slovakia, but living in Ard na Greine with his family, Vladimir is committed to his boxing and trains relentlessly each week. He told The Avondhu that at the weekend, he entered the ring for the first time in five months having only received one hour's notice, so to emerge as the champion was quite a feat.

"I only got one hour's notice that I would be boxing, so I had already done a 15km run that morning and had just finished my workout in the gym after school, but I couldn't say no to fighting in such a big show. I still went and did my best to come out with a win against a very tough opponent," he said.

"It wouldn't have been possible without the help and support from my family and friends, my trainers who helped me to prepare for the fight and The Avondhu," Vladimir added.

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