Ojo lands a first National Under 18 title for Esker

NATHAN Ojo became Esker Boxing Club’s first ever National Under 18 champion after he beat Monkstown’s Sean Trant for the 86kg crown in the National Stadium on Friday night.

An All-Ireland Boy Four and County Dublin title winner just prior to lockdown in 2020, Ojo was determined to pick up where he left off at the first opportunity.

Indeed he came through a tough road to the final that included an impressive win over Lisburn’s Jake Walker in the last four.

And he completed his march to the prize with a very composure display against Trant.

“Nathan did mix it on a few occasions in the semi final, but for the final, we told him just to box, because that big ring in the Stadium suits him for that weight. He’s very fast” said Esker coach Ed Griffin.

“He can throw the big shots alright, but Sean Trant is a very powerful opponent and if Nathan got involved with him, Trant might have had the slight advantage.

“But Nathan boxed outstandingly and he’s now on the High Performance team preparing for the European Youth Championships in Bulgaria” he said.

Indeed Ojo is the second boxer from the club to make the High Performance set-up, with the club’s first National Elite finalist Luke Maguire currently preparing for the upcoming Strandja Tournament in Bulgaria next month.

Ojo is now poised to become the first boxer to represent Esker on the European Championship stage since Killian Geraghty lined out in the European Schoolboys back in 2015.

On another note, the club will play host to a Dublin selection in a tournament this coming Sunday before hopefully welcoming a Donegal squad to Dublin next month and a team from Canada in June to help mark their 10th anniversary.