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Crank Whitehouse backs Bracken bud Christopher O’Reilly to win World Championships medal

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They are two of the most successful fighters to ever come out of Bracken BC, and Gerard Whitehouse is backing his Balbriggan buddy Christopher O’Reilly to bring home a medal from the World Youth Championships which start in St Petersburg this week.

A big supporter of his club mate, Whitehouse was one of the loudest voices (which is saying something) in the large Balbriggan crowd that roared O’Reilly to the Irish under 18 title during the Summer.

The 21 year old had a successful amateur career, winning European Schoolboys bronze in 2009 before turning pro at welterweight where he has since compiled a 5(1)-0 record.

In Anapa in 2012, O’Reilly fell one win short of emulating Crank’s European medal, and now returns to Russia after a period off the team.

Whitehouse, who still trains with O’Reilly, believes that the driven light heavyweight has the talent to succeed on the international stage and told Irish-Boxing.com that “he’s going to win a medal at these World Championships, he’s going to do well.”

“He has the style of a pro fighter. He’s sharp, he’s fit, he’s strong – if he hits you, you’ll know about it.”

Whitehouse explained how O’Reilly’s ability was always apparent, and described how “I’ve known Christy since I was a kid. He’s been in the gym since I was there and he was just someone who I always had my eye on and I was always watching as a young lad. You always knew he was going to be very good.”

“And even know, he’s outgrown me, but I’d still be sparring him in the gym and it’s just great to see that he’s come on so much.”

“I was just in the gym showing him a couple of things recently, just a few tricks, and then we got in sparring two weeks later and he was pulling them off! He’s a great lad, everything you tell him, he takes in.”

“He’s going to be one to watch.”

oreilly-whitehouse
O’Reilly and Whitehouse in their younger days (2010)

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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