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Spike O’Sullivan’s big Boston win featured some heart-warming sportsmanship afterwards


Spike O’Sullivan [26(18)-2(1)] is a throwback fighter, and the Cork middleweight was involved in a throwback fight on Saturday night.

O’Sullivan headlined a Golden Boy on ESPN card in Boston, defeating Liverpudlian Nick Quigley [15(3)-3(2)] in four-round fire-fight.

While the Leesider has become famous in recent years for his call-outs and his pre-fight antics, his clash with Quigley was a good old-fashioned barn-burner between two fighting men.

There were no kisses at the weigh-in, but there were hugs afterwards as O’Sullivan claimed a fourth round stoppage at the House of Blues.

The 33 year old was just too powerful and had Quigley badly hurt in the first and the third. The Englishman, to his immense credit, kept fighting, with the pair conspiring to throw 754 punches between them in just over 10 minutes of action.

With Quigley becoming an increasingly sitting target, and O’Sullivan showing no signs of slowing, referee Arthur Mercante Jr eventually pulled the Everton Red Triangle man out in the fourth whilst he was still standing, protecting the brave Scouser from himself.

Watch Spike O’Sullivan v Nick Quigley here.

It was a great call from the U.S. ref, who had inspected a bloodied Quigley thoroughly at the end of the third and briskly waved it off when O’Sullivan resumed his barrages in the fourth.

There was plenty of respect between the two fighters afterwards, and O’Sullivan can be seen in the ring asking Quigley to come out with him for a drink afterwards.

The two fighters did indeed go for a post-punch-up pint, and in a lovely moment they were even joined for a drink by referee Mercante.

spike quig

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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