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‘Best Boxer’ Gabriel Dossen ready to navigate Ireland’s Olympic minefield


Gabriel Dossen wants to go from ‘Best Boxer’ at the prestigious Haringey Cup to the best Ireland has to offer at 75kgs.

The Western talent has caught the eye at underage level over recent years, claiming European and World Youth bronze, and announced himself on the senior scene with a brilliant Haringey Cup win over the weekend.

Indeed such was the 18-year-old’s performance over the weekend in London that he was voted the best overall male boxer to compete at the famous tournament

It’s a massive achievement for one of a number of developing talents, but not enough to satisfy the slick puncher’s thirst for success.

The next major competition the Olympic Galway fighter wants to win his National Elite Championships which play out in the National Stadium next January.

If he can beat off tough competition to become Ireland’s best amateur middleweight, Under-22 champ Dossen believes he will take a massive step to Toyko 2020.

The fighter, who has Michael Conlan as a fan, believes getting out Ireland is the biggest hurdle along the trek to Tokyo.

A talent-packed weight, Dossen’s old amateur team mate Michael Nevin is the reigning champion while Thomas O’Toole, who also won a middleweight title at Haringey is coming through strong. Then there are the likes of Ulster destroyers Gerard French and Brett McGinty and a number of others simmering beneath the surface.

It’s a tough field, but Dossen feels he has what it takes.

“The plan is to win the Elites at 75kgs in January then obviously target the qualifiers for the Olympics. Once I win the Irish Elites I don’t think there will be any hassle in qualifying for the Olympics. The hardest bit I believe will be winning the Elites,” Dossen told Irish-Boxing.com before expanding on his step up to senior level. 

“I am stepping into the Senior cycle, this was just my second tournament at Senior elite. I fought in the under 22’s but that was just to get some experience and since that I have really trained hard. From Youths to Senior is a big step up and I have also stepped up in weight.”

“I am looking forward to the Elites in January we are definitely going to enter that. I am boxing in the Monkstown Box Cup this weekend as a cool down tournament and then after that I’ll take a break for a few weeks, go on holidays, hit the Intermediates then maybe the under-22’s before the end of the year.”

Dossen was speaking not long after he arrived back to Galway with a first senior gold in his pocket and won it in such fashion that he was deemed the best boxer to compete in this years installment of Europe’s biggest competition.

The speedster was delighted with banking gold and he claimed the ‘Best Boxer’ award [presented to him by boxing commentator Ronald McIntosh] was a cherry on top.

“Throughout the week people were telling me I could get best boxer but myself and Mike [Mongan, coach] went there to get gold and whatever came after that was just a bonus.”

Winning gold and the award has proved a confidence boost for the emerging talent but Dossen is smart enough to note he success came on the back of a lot of hard work and if he wants continued success he can’t deviate from that approach.

“I just came back from England Monday. I am over the moon with my performance throughout the week.”

“I’ve trained very hard for the last five weeks and I thought I deserved it. I had three tough fights. Every fight was hard and pushed me to my limits. Winning does give you a confidence boost, but I can’t to ahead of myself.”

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