Light heavyweight Seanie Monaghan aims to make his mark in Madison Square Garden

Light heavyweight Seanie Monaghan (10-0, 7 KOs) will make his first appearance as a professional at the main arena in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night when he fights Santos Martinez (2-2, 2 KOs) in a contest scheduled for six rounds.  The fight is on the undercard of the much-anticipated light middleweight rematch between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.

The whole card was in some doubt last week after the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) ordered Margarito to be medically evaluated for an injury he picked up to his right eye last year.  After a few tense days the Mexican was finally given his license to fight in New York, which was a huge relief to all involved, Monaghan included.

"We were waiting like everyone else, and we couldn't find out any information on what was happening," Monaghan told the Irish Voice on Monday.

The Long Island native, who is trained by Joe Higgins, fought in the WaMu Theater last month, but this will be his first appearance as a professional in the main hall at the mecca of boxing, something that is a source of real pride and excitement for him.

----------------------

READ MORE:

More Irish sports news from IrishCentral

Phoebe Prince's mother, Anne O'Brien, breaks her silence

Up to 350 Irish priests were likely accused child abusers

----------------------

"Oh my God, I am trying not to think about it too much.  Most guys never get the chance to fight in the Garden, and it will be something I can tell my children about in years to come," he said.

Monaghan will bring along his usual passionate and vociferous supporters. He said that he sold every ticket that he got and could have moved more, except that his relatively late addition to the card meant that most tickets were spoken for at that stage.

Facing him in the other corner will be the 34-year-old Martinez who is based out of Adrian, Michigan.  Monaghan admits that he would have preferred a tougher opponent for the fight, but he says he prepared for the assignment as if he was "fighting the world champion" and is eager to put on a good showing.

Monaghan sparred with Yonkers-based Dublin professional heavyweight Tom Hardwick to prepare for the fight and wrapped up his contact work on Tuesday with a session against Olympic-bound amateur Marcus Browne.

Monaghan shared a card with Martinez in Brooklyn in July, when he beat Brian Bernard by first round knockout and Martinez lost to Joe Smith, Jr., an old amateur foe of Monaghan, by KO in the second round.  Monaghan has set himself a target for this weekend.

"I am hoping to KO him faster and better (than Smith did)," he said, though he does not want to be reckless while trying to be exciting. "I will box smart and be defensive."

​
Nster.com