Christina McMahon overcomes tough year to take on historic WBA title shot in Dublin

By Boxing News - 11/07/2016 - Comments

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Monaghan boxer Christina McMahon takes to Dublin’s National Stadium on December 3rd of this year in hope of defeating Peruvian boxer and reigning world champion, Linda Lecca.

McMahon, currently ranked No.1 Irish and European Super Flyweight, would be the first ever female Irish boxer to claim a WBA belt, and only the third ever Irish boxer to achieve such a feat after fellow Monaghan native Barry McGuigan and Dubliner Bernard Dunne.

The fight will headline the FS Promotions “History in The Making” Show at the historic National Stadium. It will be the first time a female professional boxing world title bout is staged in Ireland. It is also the first time ever an Irish boxer will fight for a world title at the National Stadium.

After turning professional in 2010, McMahon rose rapidly through the rankings, claiming the interim WBC World Bantamweight belt after overcoming Catherine Phiri of Zambia in May, 2015.

Since claiming the WBC belt, McMahon’s year has been spoiled by the corruption and illegitimate behavior which was so severely scrutinised during last summer’s Rio Olympics. Particularly among Irish spectators, who saw Belfast’s Michael Conlon “cheated” out of what would have been one of Ireland’s best chances to claim a gold medal at the games.

In October 2015, one day prior to her Super Bantamweight title fight with Alicia Ashley, the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) insisted McMahon have “Radio Active Glucose” applied to her bloodstream. This came as part of a P.E.T. scan, in which McMahon was assured the glucose application was in her best interest.

The NYSAC stated that without a P.E.T. scan there would be no fight. Ultimately, the actions of the NYSAC were not in the interests of McMahon at all, but rather a cause of major distraction from her preparations for the fight.

At a WBC title shot in Mexico in March of this year, corrupt officials would rear their ugly heads once more. McMahon, and the majority of the crowd, were left stunned after officials declared the bout was won by the Monaghan fighter’s opponent, Zulina Munoz.

This decision was followed up by a drugs test and a lengthy appeal against the officials’ decision. Although the appeal ended in the WBC promising McMahon a rematch, no such fight prevailed. Instead, after McMahon publicised the details of what happened in Mexico, she was suspended by the WBC.

McMahon is determined to set the record straight on the past year and claim the belt which she rightfully deserves. The past year has provided a drive that has given the boxer the determination and work ethic to return from suspension and finally lay claim to that elusive WBA belt.

Fundraising

However, to make her historical attempt a reality, McMahon needs the support of the Irish public in the form of funding. She requires €20,000 to take that final step and make Irish boxing history.

To help with raising money, McMahon has turned to PledgeSports, a sports crowdfunding platform who give athletes like her the opportunity to get their story out there and raise the money they need to fund their ambition.

Those who wish to support McMahon in her WBA title shot can do so by going to following the link to her PledgeSports campaign and giving any amount of support they can offer: https://www.pledgesports.org/projects/wba-super-flyweight-world-title/

The fighter has put rewards in place as a thank you to those who show support and contribute to her campaign. Some of the rewards on offer include, social media shout-outs, personal training sessions, public speaking or boxing seminar, advertisement posters in the National Stadium, VIP tickets to the fight on December 3rd, and television advertising.