AmateurHeadline News

Gabriel Dossen determined to deliver on Mick Conlan’s Olympic gold medal prediction


Gabriel Dossen turned 18 just a few months ago but is already being tipped for Olympic glory by one of Ireland’s greatest ever.

The Galway welterweight will only be 20 years of age by the time the Tokyo Olympics roll around, but Mick Conlan is confident that Dossen has the talent to take home gold.

Conlan recently pinpointed Dossen and Paddy Donovan as two big Tokyo hopes for Ireland in an interview with IFL, outlining how “they’re just super talented and, if they stick at it and stay focused, they can go and win the Olympics.”

Dossen only burst onto the scene in mid-2016, and has since taken home World and European Youth bronze as well as ruling the Irish scene.

The quietly confident Olympic BC fighter was appreciative of the Olympic bronze and World Championships gold medalist, and told Irish-Boxing.com that “Michael Conlan, he’s up there, and it’s very encouraging.”

“I’d like to thank him, that’s the kind of thing that helps get my name around the World.”

Olympic gold is a target for the Côte d’Ivoire-born fighter, who notes how “if other people can see that in me it gives me even more confidence of success.”

Dossen recently claimed the Irish U22 title up at middleweight but will not be entering the Elite Senior Championships which start tomorrow night.

Looking back on a championships at an unfamiliar weight where he defeated two established internationals, Dossen was able to keep things quick and long to win the U22 tournament at his first attempt.

He analysed how “Chris O’Reilly, I know him, we were on the Irish team before. He’s a good skilled boxer, very strong, and he caught me with a few overhands. The plan was to keep it long and don’t mix it inside with them, and that’s what I did. Johnny Joyce, he kind of stands there. Chris O’Reilly, he didn’t throw much shots but every shot was clinical.”

The Mike Mongan-trained fighter is taking a gradual approach, seasoning himself ahead of the second Elite Senior Championships of 2018 in November.

He intends to be back down at welterweight for this competition too after a weight miscalculation saw him pulled out of the Intermediates in December and entered at 75kg in the U22s.

Outlining his plans for an important 2018, Dossen described how “there’s the European Under-22s and a few Box Cups here and there. I’ll stay busy.”

“I should be back down to 69kg for the Elites in November and hopefully I win them and Ireland send me out to the qualifiers for the Olympics.”

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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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