Family affair brings Roddy Doran back to boxing

Shropshire boxing star Roddy Doran has returned to the sport – to train his nephew,

.

Shrewsbury super middleweight Brendan Howes, son of Doran's sister Jane, has turned professional and is preparing for his first fight in the paid ranks on Friday September 21 at Walsall Town Hall.

Howes is doing so under the watchful eye of Doran, who won the Midlands middleweight title before retiring in June 2005.

The 40-year-old said: "I was thinking about moving back into boxing as a trainer and the opportunity came along with Brendan. I watched him box as an amateur and he has got potential.

"He knows he has to work hard for it but he has gone full-time boxing and is committing himself to it.

"He will be training three times a day and there are no short cuts. It's no Las Vegas life – this is the real world."

Howes forged a junior career with Shrewsbury & Severnside Amateur Boxing Club and reached the semi-finals of the junior ABAs in 2007 and the quarter-finals 12 months later.

And the 20-year-old is excited at what the pro world has in store.

He said: "One of the main reason's I turned professional is the chance to follow in Roddy's footsteps..

"I watched his fights and he inspired me. He's a great trainer but pretty strict as he knows what's required.

"Every boxer starts out wanting to be a world champion but I'm just going to take it one step at a time.

"Hopefully I can have five or six fights and then look to go for a Midlands title but we will have to see."

Doran won nine of his 15 fights as a professional, the highlight a points victory over former WBF world middleweight champion Damon Hague.