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Paschal Collins doubts Paul Hyland’s appetite for immediate Stephen Ormond rematch


One of the most-mentioned and hoped-for all-Irish fights by fans is a lightweight rematch between Stephen Ormond and Paul Hyland Jr.

Unfortunately however, a fight which once seemed somewhat likely is now at the end of an indefinitely long finger.

The pair shared a controversial clash in the chief support bout of Ryan Burnett’s unification against Zhanat Zhakiyanov in Belfast back in October, live on Sky Sports.

Belfast’s Hyland [17(6)-0] won a split decision on the night, however this verdict was near-unanimously derided by fans, fighters, and media, who believed that Dubliner Ormond [24(13)-5(1)] had done more than enough to recover from an early knockdown and taking a close but clear win.

A rematch was proposed for the Katie Taylor homecoming undercard in Dublin in April, however with this now looking increasingly unlikely and Burnett seemingly fighting away from Belfast next, it will be the Autumn at the very least before such a fight is possible.

The issue of revenge or righting a wrong however is not on the minds of Team Ormond who have taken a different approach to dealing with the dubious defeat – ignoring it.

Ormond’s trainer and manager Paschal Collins explained to Irish-Boxing.com how “I don’t hold grudges. The one thing I don’t do is hold grudges because it doesn’t do anyone any good. I don’t really care.”

“That was a win for Stephen Ormond, that was a W on his record as far as I’m concerned. Everybody knows it was a win for Stephen.”

The Celtic Warriors boss is open to a rematch, but doesn’t foresee one happening.

Collins notes how “that fight interests me. He [Ormond] is not going to fight until April because he’s got a new kid. If Katie comes to Dublin in April, Eddie Hearn should put him on the undercard then absolutely.”

“Hyland, is he going to rematch Stephen? I don’t think so. I don’t think so because next time not only will Stephen Ormond beat him, but he’ll beat him well.”

“But it has to happen in Dublin, we’re not going to go back to Northern Ireland.”

Outlining the possible scenario and circumstances for a repeat of one of the Irish Fights of the Year, the Cabra coach detailed how “maybe for young Hyland it [the Ormond fight] was a little early in his career.”

“If the people around him are realists, they’ll know that too.”

“You get out of jail – like he did on the night with the judges, corrupt judges – now he goes back to the drawing board, he has a couple more fights, he learns, and then he’ll hope to come on later in the year and say ‘alright, Stephen Ormond, I’m ready to fight you now.’ and they have a big fight with one of them holding a major belt.”

Hyland is currently still recovering from a broken jaw inflicted in their first fight, and misses out on the first MHD Promotions show of the year next week, but Collins though is focused on big Matchroom names as 34-year-old Ormond looks to round off his career with a flourish.

Collins described how “we don’t care, because Stephen Ormond won the fight. We all know he won the fight. He mightn’t have got the W or the belt around his waist, but we know he won and we’re moving forward. We want big fights for Stephen Ormond.”

“He wants a big fight, he wants the [Anthony] Crollas, the [Tommy] Coyles, the [Ricky] Burns. He’s been around a long time, he’s had the ups and he’s had the downs, but he still pushes through.”

“He’s back to his old self and he deserves now to earn a few bob and take care of his family, maybe buy a house.”

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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