Collins plans big 2011
26 November 2010 – Steve Wellings
Cork trainer Paschal Collins may have been quiet of late, but the former pro insists that his stable are working hard behind the scenes and the fruits of their labour will be evident in 2011 when his star men get big title chances. Paschal has teamed up with Frank Warren and is looking to steer light-middleweight Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan and lightweight Stephen Ormond to Commonwealth glory nights.
Stephen is fighting on December 4 in Glasgow on the Ricky Burns-Andreas Evensen undercard, confirmed Collins.
We havent got an opponent confirmed yet but it will be an eight-rounder and the plan is to go for the Commonwealth title. If we get another fight early in the New Year then were aiming for Liam Walsh who won the super-featherweight title [wpts12, Maxwell Awuku]. Liams a good fighter but hes young and a little bit green as far as were concerned so it would be a good time to fight him.
Norwich’s charismatic puncher Walsh is 10-0 with seven wins coming via the big KO. The 24-year-old gritted his teeth and dug deep to take the Commonwealth belt against rugged Awuku and would represent a step-up in class for Ormond, who was last seen fighting on the previous Ricky Burns undercard, beating Johnny Greaves in Glasgow.
Another man who has seemingly fallen off the radar is 11-0 ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan, who was last seen beating France’s Sylvain Touzet last June in his native Cork. O’Sullivan was also scheduled to appear on that aforementioned Glasgow card but never made it on due to complications relating to a E300 fine in his name. Collins explains the problems he has been enduring away from the ring.
He has been training and keeping himself in good shape,” Collins said.
Spike and Stephen will take out British boxing licenses which will allow them to contest the Commonwealth title, he confirmed. They have relations in England so are both eligible for that belt, just not the British title itself.
Paschal also has another familiar face training with him down in Cork.
I have Ian Tims in the gym now and hes a changed fighter, displaying real power. Ian got an injury in sparring before the Michael Sweeney fight which is why it fell through. Hes over that now and absolutely mad for that fight.
If we cant get Sweeney then well look to move up in weight and fight Coleman Barrett at heavyweight or even Martin Rogan.
So Tims and his team are chasing a shot at the returning ‘Iron Man’, conqueror of Harrison and Skelton?
Absolutely we want that fight, Collins confirmed. Nothing personal against Martin, hes a great boxer but tell him that we want it.
