Co Down boxer Dylan Eagleson overcame illness and a training camp injury to claim his first Irish Elite title on Saturday night.
The Bangor teenager had been struggling with a chest infection leading up to the major competition at the National Stadium in Dublin.
He also sustained a cut during his training camp which disrupted his sparring plans.
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But despite almost being withdrawn from the event, Eagleson showed character and class to win the 54kg decider against Jorge Rogla Castanno.
It is the latest success for the St Paul's ABC fighter who starred in 2022, winning Commonwealth Games gold and Euro Elite silver and Euro Under 22 bronze.
To make Eagleson's latest success even more impressive is the fact this was his first competitive action since last summer's Commonwealths, the 19-year-old having struggled with a back injury following the Birmingham Games.
"He won the fight comfortably despite not being well," said St Paul's coach Ralph McKay.
"He had a chest infection and also sustained a cut on his eye a couple of weeks ago. So he wasn't able to spar. He just had to manage a couple of weeks' small training sessions in the gym.
"It shows how well Dylan can adjust and adapt, inside and outside the ring. About a week ago we were saying to Dylan that if his chest infection didn't improve then we would pull him out.
"He just said 'no, I'll be okay'. And he said he would know himself that he would be ready.
"It would have been hard to pull him out of this. If Dylan had one leg he would still want to go in there and fight. That's the type of character he is.
"I think he finished his antibiotics on Wednesday and he was ready to fight. And he was comfortable in the final itself."
Eagleson now appears in pole position to be selected for this summer's European Games.
And McKay admits 2023 could be another massive year for his young prospect.
"We will see what happens over the next couple of months. He still walks about at 56kgs, so he probably needs to work on the physicality to fight at 57kg. But that will come because he is still a young kid.
"He has time on his hands, so we won't be rushing into things.
"The European Games this summer will be on his radar. It will all boil down to his training programme and the decision the High Performance team makes.
"But I am happy to see him box at 54kg and gradually build into the 57kgs, work on strength and conditioning.
"He is still maturing physically, but he is very mature inside the ring."
McKay added: "Dylan impressed in 2022 and built up a lot of experience with the various tournaments and competitions he fought in.
"That's all part of the journey and process for him. You don't want to rush him too quickly.
"We are still waiting to hear if boxing will be at the Olympics, so we will see how that pans out. But there is plenty to keep Dylan busy this year.
"There is also the World Championships in September/October time, and Dylan is more than capable of winning something like that. On his game, Dylan can become a world champion.
"Every year is going to be a big year for him from now on."
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