Northern Ireland

Stabbed west Belfast boxer is now an Irish champion

Less than a year on being brutally stabbed in Belfast city centre, Caoimhin Hynes is now an Irish boxing champion
Less than a year on being brutally stabbed in Belfast city centre, Caoimhin Hynes is now an Irish boxing champion Less than a year on being brutally stabbed in Belfast city centre, Caoimhin Hynes is now an Irish boxing champion

A WEST Belfast boxer left lucky to be alive after being stabbed last year in the city centre, is now an Irish senior champion.

Caoimhin Hynes (21), was outside McDonald’s on Donegall Place with his girlfriend after a night out in May when he was sliced across the face.

A rising star in amateur boxing, he said he felt lucky to be alive after undergoing surgery and receiving multiple stitches. Despite being left with a six-inch scar the talented boxer was back in the ring in just five months and now is an Irish champion.

Less than a year on from the horrific attack, which almost cost him his career and his life, Hynes, of Holy Trinity boxing club, won the 81kg Irish Elite title on Saturday evening at the National Stadium in Dublin. In what could be his last fight as an amateur he defeated Brian Kennedy in the light-heavyweight final, having stunned 2017 beaten finalist Tony Browne in the previous round.

A natural middleweight, that was Hynes’s first fight at the 81kg limit, having only agreed to enter the Irish Elites at the last minute. The boxer has recently held talks with professional promoters after his dreams of going to the Commonwealth Games were dashed after defeat at the Ulster Elites in November.

In a post on his Twitter page the talented west Belfast sportsman reflected on a year of highs and lows.

"With the year Ive had I thought nothing was gona go right for me From being stabbed losing in the commonwealth qualifiers and family problems Ive had some year

Want to thank everyone for the support," he said.

In November the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) confirmed it has decided not not to pursue a case over the stabbing.

Speaking at the time Mr Hynes vowed to challenge the PPS decision.