Young Guns - Brandon McCarthy and Paul Loonam

This week on The Rocky Road we sat down for a chat with rising stars Paul Loonam and Brandon McCarthy at UNIT 3 in Naas. Friends since their early days in Ireland camps, they’ve gone pro and represent the new batch of Irish talent in the paid ranks. Both had to face up to their disappointment at not making it to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games - with that hitting them in slightly different ways - but there’s a new goal ahead. Loonam will make his debut in Dublin in May on a JB Promotions card, while McCarthy got up and running with a win in San Francisco on St Patrick’s weekend. From Offaly and Kilkenny respectively, not exactly hotbeds of professional boxing, they’ve a great chance to make their mark. As well as preparing for his first outing, Loonam’s a new dad to Gianni, and McCarthy looks to have taken on a new family member as well as he sets up camp with previous guest of The Rocky Road, Tommy Hyde, in Los Angeles. He tells us about sparring the Mexicans and picking up little tricks - some on the borderline of acceptability - with Loonam discussing his decision to set up shop under Niall Barrett in Kildare. Two exciting prospects, they’ll go far - and sound like they’re loving it so far.

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