But when he returns at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart next month, the Dublin Combat Academy product will look to make the most of his second chance at a first impression.
Coakley is set to meet Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon in a bantamweight Muay Thai battle at the Saturday, 3rd August, event, and he plans to show the world why he’s one of Ireland’s best strikers after suffering a disappointing first-round knockout loss in his debut at ONE Friday Fights 46 last December.
“I genuinely think I have one of the best skill sets in the world. I just haven’t been able to show it off properly yet from my last fight,” Coakley said.
“I didn’t get to show a glimpse of anything that I’m capable of last time around. So, that’s where it hurt most for me. Losing and getting to show some of your skills makes it a bit easier to take.
“But not getting to show anything. No, I can’t have that. It doesn’t sit right. So, it’s all about redemption.”
To find success at a global level, sacrifices must be made, and having support is crucial. Coakley knows this and, luckily, so does his partner. The decision to take a chance on a fighter’s talent is never made lightly, but the couple have put full faith in the Irishman to succeed in his quest.
This may mean that other areas of their lives need to take a backseat for the time being, and it puts a significant amount of stress on Coakley in his upcoming return to ONE Championship.
But the 28-year-old believes that everything good must come from hard work, and he’s ready to put in as much as is needed.
“My girlfriend left her job in retail for a couple of months to see how things pan out with my career here so I can focus on training full time,” Coakley said.
“That’s given me great motivation. It’s all the motivation I need. It’s all riding on me. A lot of people fold under that pressure, but it only motivates me further.
“I have to work harder. I have to win this for me and them. Pressure makes diamonds, man.”
