THOSE who can, box. Those who can’t, write about boxing (as someone once said) but county Armagh super-featherweight Lee Gormley is one of very few who can do both.
Sports Journalism graduate Gormley has his second professional fight in Bolton on September 16 and the 31-year-old six-footer with the long levers is determined to make up for lost time when he goes in against opponent Logan Paling.
Derryadd native Gormley spent his youth playing Gaelic Football for his local Sarsfields club before relocating to university in Leeds. After graduating he moved to Manchester and that’s where, having always had a “keen interest” in the sport, he took the opportunity to get the gloves on and start boxing.
Five years, almost 40 amateur fights and a successful pro debut later, the Alex Matvienko-trained super-feather remains hooked on the noble art.
“From I was able to walk I was playing soccer and Gaelic, then I went to university in Leeds and I continued the GAA over there with St Benedict’s Harps, it was only when I got to Manchester that I got the chance to start boxing,” he explained.
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After a few training sessions he joined the amateur team at Halliwell ABC and soaked in all the experience he could as he progressed through the ranks.
“I always had my focus on the pros at some point,” he said.
“The amateurs were a steppingstone so I wanted to fight as many different styles as possible and get the ring experience.
“I had nearly 40 contests so I got that and I fought and beat plenty of good lads. I probably would have turned over a bit earlier if it wasn’t for Covid but I started pushing for the pro licence over the last year and I made my debut in June so I’m buzzing with that.”
Alongside his boxing, Gormley has worked as a freelancer for trade magazines Boxing News and Boxing Monthly and he now generates all the boxing and sports content for website BoxRaw.
“At the minute, my pro boxing career is at the forefront but I love the job at BoxRaw so I’ll always be involved in boxing in terms of writing about it,” he says.
“Everything revolves around boxing. I train in the mornings then get to work writing about boxing so I have the best of both of worlds. Most people would go into the media after being a fighter but I’ve taken the opposite path because I was in media first. I’ve done it in reverse. I think it helps when I’m writing features that I have experienced what it’s like being in there so I can give my own unique take on it.”
As he says, what happens inside the ropes is at the forefront and he hopes to be 4-0 by the end of this year and then he’ll target an Irish or Celtic title. Belfast’s ‘Posh Boy’, Colm Murphy, is the reigning Irish champion. He beat Gormley’s stablemate Liam Gaynor to win the belt back in July.
“I’ll hopefully have four fights this year and then a couple more learning-fights next year and then step it up,” says Gormley.
“I’m in Manchester so I can challenge for the Central Area title next year and I’d love to win an Irish or Celtic title – that’s always been an ambition. Those are the medium/short-term goals but I know how good I am and I’ve got a great team around me so I know I can win those titles and push on from there.
“I started late but I’ve got no mileage on the clock. I’m a defence-first, technical fighter, I stay away from gym wars and I live the life, so I’m in it for the long-term.”
