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Fagan: My will, will prove too much for Goodwin’s skill

picture by Photo’s by Ricardo

IT is skill against will claims Oisin Fagan ahead of his WBF Intercontinental title fight with Chris Goodwin in Chester this weekend-and the veteran Dublin puncher is confident his superior guts will lead him to glory.

The former Irish and Oklahoma State champion has always admitted he isn’t the most gifted boxing technician, but what he lacks in flair he certainly makes up for in fight.  The Dubliner has traded on heart over the years-Fagan even fought a round against Amir Khan with a broken leg-and he thinks that could prove the difference come Saturday.

Speaking to Irish-boxing.com about just his second fight since 2011 the teak tough lightweight admitted Goodwin has a superior skill set, but said he is planning to out tough the 25 year old.

“I’m looking forward to the fight- I’m confident in my strengths. I know I’m very tough and very fit and in that sense,” said the 21 year old.

“I’d be confident against anybody in the world. as I don’t think I can ever be ‘out-toughed’. However, I feel like almost everyone is a better “boxer” than me, so it just a matter of what attribute’s prevail between us, in this fight- my toughness or his stellar counter-punching techniques.”

At 41 some might suggest it will be difficult for Fagan to ‘out tough’ his English foe, but the former Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Paul Spadafora foe says that there is fight in the old dog yet.

Indeed, ‘Gael Force’ is adamant he will be fitter as a well as tougher than Goodwin.

“I wouldn’t say there is “needle,” (between the pair) per-se. However, I think if he’s underestimating this old man, he’ll be in for a shock,” Fagan added.

“Especially if he thinks I’ve been idle and doing nothing over the past few years. In fact, I’ve trained every day for the past 22-years, including days I’ve been sick and injured. Sure, even when I broke my leg against Khan, I was operated on the next day and then I went out to run 5-miles on crutches, at speed, and I continued to try beat my time every day until the cast came off months later, so I don’t think Goodwin will be able to compete with that echelon of toughness.”

Fagan,who has seen three fights with Goodwin fall through, one at the very last minute, has previously talked about one more ‘big’ fight before he returns to retirement, but claims this weekends bout isn’t that fight, rather its a stepping stone to that ‘go out with a bang’ contest.

“This isn’t the fight to go out on. This is the fight that might get me into the position to get me the right fight to retire on. I have taken out a license for one-more year and intend to use it up and probably retire this time next year.”

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Integral part of the Irish boxing community for over 13 years

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