Inspirational national title triumph by Mayo boxer
Castlebar Boxing Club is celebrating another outstanding achievement by one of its newest members.
Rasheed Momoh is living proof that it's never too late to take up a sport - on condition you are willing to put in the hard work required.
Rasheed got his rewards by lifting the national senior novice heavyweight boxing title at the National Stadium, Dublin.
He entered the competition at the quarterfinal stage and, in what was his first ever contest, he delivered a commanding performance earning a 5-0 decision win.
Another 5-0 win followed in his semi-final and Rasheed found himself in an All-Ireland final.
Robbie Olusola from Celtic Eagles B.C, Galway, provided the challenge, and challenge he did.
Learning from watching Rasheed's previous contests, Robbie attacked from the first bell knowing that he could not afford to let the Castlebar man dictate the distance that the contest would be fought at.
Momoh, however, had different ideas.
His ring movement and footwork dictated the direction of the contest.
His clinical left jab and powerful right hand cross had Olusola under pressure throughout the first two rounds.
But it was in the third round that Rasheed really turned on the style.
Catching his opponent with every shot he threw and slipping what ever came his way he put his own stamp on the old boxing phrase - 'hit and don't get hit'.
Another great win and another win with all five judges giving him the nod, 5-0.
Senior novice heavyweight boxing champion Rasheed Momoh is now eyeing up what next competition would be best for his development in the sport as he is still only 19 years old.
A latecomer to the sport of boxing Rasheed, who hails from Bohola, started training to fill all the extra spare time he found himself with during Covid.
He would spend his time working up a sweat at a local gym in Bohola not far from his home.
Studying biomedical science in third level education in Sligo he spends his evening's training with multiple national title holder and former professional heavyweight boxer, Stephen Reynolds in Ballinacarrow Boxing Club.
His coaches at Castlebar Boxing Club are immensely proud of him and say that he is truly an example to everyone.