New Year’s Resolutions: Craig O’Brien – “I was very close to giving the boxing game up for good”

Craig O’Brien [3(0)-0] will finally return to the ring next month, and admits that his long period of inactivity left him on the verge of quitting the sport.

The stylish light middleweight last fought in September 2015, and has been subject to frustration ever since. The inner-city Dub continued to tick over in Paschal Collins’s Celtic Warriors Gym throughout 2016, but has revealed that he almost quit boxing altogether.

‘The Iron’ spoke to Irish-Boxing.com about a tough year and described how “I didn’t fight at all in 2016 which was hard for me after having a great start to the pro game with three wins in 2015. I thought 2016 would have being a good year, but that’s boxing and it was hard for me overall.”

“Towards the back end of 2016 I thought to myself ‘is it really worth it going the gym nearly every day and not fighting?’ I was very close to giving the boxing game up for good.”

Thankfully the popular puncher has secured a date, and will box on the Red Corner Promotions ‘Unfinished Business’ card at the National Stadium next month. O’Brien’s hopes that this will be the first of many fights and outlined how “the plan for 2017 is to fight on the 25th of February over 6 rounds to get some ring rust off then I’m hoping in to be kept busy.”

“I would like to have four fights this year. It’s about pushing on a little bit now and staying in the gym being ready to fight. The dream for me is just to fight – whether it’s a four round fight, a six round fight, or an eight round, that’s all I want to do.”

A hugely supported character in his local community, the likeable 27 year old promised his large fanbase that they “can expect 100% from me. I think anyone who has seen me fighting gets value for money. I would like to say thanks very much to everyone that has bought, or will buy, tickets off me, it means a lot. It’s bond to be a great night overall don’t miss out.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

–

Joe O’Neill and Gavan Casey look ahead to 2017 in episode 1 of The Irish Boxing Show