Shane McGuigan lands a punch against Terry Garland

Boxing legend Barry McGuigan was at ringside on Tuesday night to watch his son Shane win on his Ulster Seniors debut at the Dockers club in Belfast.

The 19-year-old Clones welterweight claimed an impressive 27-5 points victory over Holy Trinity's Terry Gartland in the quarter-finals.

Shane will meet Holy Family fighter James Ferrin in Thursday's semi-finals.

"He's a 15-fight novice. The potential is there but we've a lot of work to do," said the ex-world champion.

"He did some really nice things in the third round in particular."

McGuigan junior's participation was the big story on the opening night of the Ulster Seniors - even though the Clones Cyclone had shielded the youngster from media requests in the run-up to the bout.

"I just wish he would be left alone to get on with it," added the 47-year-old.

"I'm always nervous watching him. I vicariously take every punch that he takes."

However, the former world champion's wife Sandra has yet to watch her son in action.

I didn't actually encourage him to box Barry McGuigan

"She always walks out when I'm making my entrance," added Shane.

The youngster is the current British (ABA) Novice Welterweight Champion.

The Clones Cyclone, a world champion at featherweight, coaches his son although Shane was a late starter to the sport.

"I didn't actually encourage him to box but my life is so involved in boxing, with commentaries, writing about boxing and working with the Professional Boxers Association, invariably he was going to be become interested in it.

"He didn't take it up until rather late. Nobody expected him to do it - least of all myself but he's proved to be pretty good at it.

"He won the national novice title in June and he's made steady progress ever since.

"He trains like a demon and we're always talking about boxing."

McGuigan senior claimed his first Ulster Senior title at the Dockers club 30 years ago, the same year that he landed Commonwealth Games gold in Edmonton.

Seven years later, he claimed the world featherweight title by outpointing Eusebio Pedroza of Panama at Loftus Road in London.