Masoliver ready to make PFL dream a reality

Eoghan Masoliver admits it will be a "dream come true" when he walks out to a packed SSE Arena in April's PFL Belfast card.

Nine months ago the 21-year-old was in the crowd celebrating as Paul Hughes knocked out Bruno Miranda inside 42 seconds.

Now Masoliver is preparing for the biggest night of career to date as he takes on Dubliner Shane Mullen on the same card as Hughes, and it is one he is relishing.

"It is something that I have dreamed about. In May last year I was standing in the crowd when Paul fought Miranda and I felt it," said Masoliver.

"I felt the energy and I said to myself that this is where I want to be. I have to do this in my life, the opportunity has come and I'm just so grateful. I can't wait to show how good I am on such a big stage.

"What an opportunity I have to show the world what I'm about and how good I am. This is what I have been dreaming of since I was a kid.

"To be able to fight in a packed out SSE Arena, in front of thousands of people is what I have dreamed of. It's a privilege to do all the media stuff and everything else that comes along with it. How could I not be grateful for it when this is what I've wanted?

"It's a kind of reality check that the hard work is paying off, what I'm doing is working and that the trust that I have in myself is warranted."

Hughes has been a big influence on Masoliver's career as the pair have followed similar paths having to leave their north west home to further their careers by joining Fight Academy Ireland.

Masoliver has made plenty of sacrifices along the way including the lengthy bus trips to Belfast before he was able to drive.

"I started off in martial arts when I was about six-years-old before moving on to MMA when I was about 10," recalled the 21-year-old.

"I had a few amateur fights before I made the decision to join Fight Academy. I wasn't driving at the time so it was long days travelling by bus to Belfast, then getting the Glider across the city before walking the last 20 minutes to the gym.

"I remember getting back to Derry one night after midnight and having to walk home in the snow because there were no taxis.

"Paul and myself had similar situations at the start of our careers where we kind of outgrew our original training environment at home and to progress we had to move.

"He's been a really good role model in terms of what I can do. And if Paul can do it why can't I? He has the same coaching, he's got the same team, he's got the same people around him. If he can do it why can't I?"

After knocking out Enrico Scazzi with a first round head kick in a 'dream' pro debut at the start of March, Masoliver is predicting more of the same against Mullen in April.

"I will knock this guy out, I will knock this guy out and this will skyrocket my career," he added. "People are going to understand what I am about and what I can do after this fight.

"I've got the world at my feet. I want to stay active, I want to keep building myself and my career to show people what I'm about and announce myself on the world stage."