MARTIN Rogan and the coach who guided him to Prizefighter glory, victory over Audley Harrison and a stunning Commonwealth title TKO of European champion Matt Skelton have split.
The 37-year-old parted company last week from John Breen, who has trained eight world champions during his career and is regarded as the most successful professional boxing trainer in Ireland of the modern era.
Rogan is scheduled to challenge the boxer who controversially took the Commonwealth title off him, Norwich’s Sam Sexton, to try and reclaim the crown at the Odyssey Arena on October 9.
A face-to-face meeting took place between Breen and Rogan five days ago. Rogan outlined his position and his coach, also his manager, said he accepted what he was told and agreed to release Rogan from his management contract.
“The excuse he gave in the end I accepted,” said John. “I said to him that there was no problem, shook his hand and said good luck. But he’s told others a different story.”
Rogan has not been training at Breen’s gym in Belfast for some time and instead is based at the Bosco club.
Breen had agreed to train him there and left instructions for routines to be followed while he went on a family holiday to Spain.
Initial problems arose after the defeat to Sexton. It had been claimed Rogan and Breen’s assistant trainer Eamonn Magee had a falling out.
Breen confirmed that, saying: “Eamonn and Martin had a few words, a falling out, and that is why Martin was not training down at my gym. He said that he didn’t want to bring me out of my gym to train him in the Bosco and I said ‘Martin that’s alright, away you go’.
“But, my wife Laura rang Martin 10 minutes after he came to see me last Friday. The excuse he gave to her was that he’d realised over the last year that I can’t take him any further. But, it is only this last year that he’s started to win anything.
“Think about it. A year ago he won the Prizefighter. He then beat Audley Harrison. Six months ago he beat Matt Skelton.”
Asked if the rift can be resolved, Breen said that while disappointed with what has taken place, that he would not work with Rogan at his gym in the future.
“That’s it over,” he said. “It is finished. The excuse he gave in the end, I accepted. “I said to him that there was no problem, shook his hand and said good luck. But he’s told others a different story.
“It is finished now. I am not losing any sleep but if Martin Rogan gives that reason, that I can’t take him any further, then he’ll see a different me. He told that to Laura. He did not give that reason to me but he’ll not be back because I won’t take him back after what he said to Laura. Too much has been said.”
That is bad news kid Breen is one of the best irish trainers and Rogan is now training himself
