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O’Sullivan to target Monster Munguia – Collins talks Spike’s next move

David Lemieux may have extinguished Spike O’Sullivan’s Canelo Alvarez hopes when he turned the Cork fighter’s light out on September 15th, but he didn’t end the Mahon man’s world title dreams claims Paschal Collins.

O’Sullivan was on course to fight the Mexican draw for substantial money, but came up against a Lemiuex-sized road block on the GGG-Canelo undercard.

Spike to set his sights on the light middleweight world champions
Spike to set his sights on the light middleweight world champions

After stopping the Cork puncher in the first round of the high profile middleweight clash, the Canadian former world title holder rather than Spike looks set to fight Canelo later this year.

It’s a blow for the 34-year-old but not one he can’t recover from assures coach Collins.

Indeed, Collins claims there is already a new plan in place and one that sees the Celtic Warrior Gym fighter challenge for a world title next Summer.

The experienced coach and manager looks set to finally get his O’Sullivan light middleweight wish granted as Spike moves down to 154lbs to explore title options at the lower weight.

Collins confirmed Golden Boy assertions the Leesidee won’t be ‘thrown under the bus’ and revealed he will return at the new weight before the year is out, quite possibly on a Canelo-Lemieux undercard in December.

The hope is to then secure the Cork puncher a world title eliminator before challenging for the WBO light middleweight world title, which is currently held by Jamie Munguia

“Golden Boy don’t throw you under the bus if you lose. They like Spike, he is a seller, he is marketable and a good fighter,” Collins told Irish-Boxing.com.

“We sat down and said Spike should be a junior middleweight, he was walking around at 158lbs the week of the fight. He was drinking water getting on the scales to be heavier. I have always said that he should be junior middle.

“We discussed whats the next step on the journey and basically we are going to go to light middle. Golden Boy will get him out in November, December this year, get him a 10 rounder and a ranking fight, after Christmas then we would like an eliminator and then fight Munguia for a world title.”

“Or, if Munguia vacates, which could happen if they want to make the Canelo fight, for the vacant title.”

Collins lays out new Spike plan
Collins lays out new Spike plan

The news certainly won’t be music to Dennis Hogan’s ears. The Kildare fighter is #1 in the WBO rankings and while he waited patiently for his shot last year his team are now trying to put pressure on the WBO and Golden Boy to make the fight happen.

Collins points out Munguia is the light middleweight world champ they are targeting because he, like Spike, is promoted by Golden Boy making it an easy fight to make.

He also notes that, come next May, the massive light middle may have moved up and vacated- and if that’s the case he hopeful his charge will fight for the vacant belt.

If Spike wants the shot next May or thereabouts, Hogan may have already got his chance and, if the Huricane wins, we could have a first all Irish world title fight – similarly, #1 ranked Higan could be the man in the other corner for a vacabt title fight.

Regardless Collins’ focus is on his man and he told Irish-Boxing.com a path to the WBO title at 154lbs is there for the former Irish champion to follow.

“We could fight the other light middleweight champions, but Munguia is with Golden Boy so that’s why I mention him. That’s an easy fight to make. There are still great options there for Spike and listen if Spike goes the route of Munguia and beats him then he can move back to middle and look to fight Canelo,” he continued.

“The attractive thing about this is they are all Golden Boy fighters so those fights can be made. There are certain promoters who contact you when they need something but when you want to ask them something you can’t get them. Golden Boy have never been like that. Eric Gomez has been brilliant and Rober Diaz the same, they are good people to work with and that’s all positive for Spike.”

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