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Low Blows: Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan

Wednesday June 8th marks the start of the Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations, but it also means the start of one of our new weekly features. While thousands of students are being examined around the country, we will be quizzing Irish boxers and getting them to dish the dirt on their gym-mates and fellow fighters in ‘LowBlows’.

First up is former Irish middleweight champion Spike O’Sullivan, a man famous for never pulling punches.

Q: Hardest Trainer?
A:
As long as I’ve known him, Steve Ormond always trains very hard. Steve Collins Jnr also trains very hard as, when he first started training with all of us at the Celtic Warrior Gym. he was at a disadvantage as he had no amatuer experience, but he has done a great job catching up in fairness to him.

Q: Biggest Moaner?
A: Ian Tims,
because even when he is in a good mood he still seems like he is moaning when he talks.

Q: Funniest?
A: Billy Joe Saunders
. When Billy Joe and I meet up we go home with a pain in our stomachs from laughing so much. He’s one funny man.

Q: Biggest Ladies Man?
A:
That’s between Frank Buglioni and Nick Blackwell. Frank is a model and more than the half the women I know have asked me for his number at one time or another. When Nick was over training and sparring at the Celtic Warrior Gym he stayed at the Citywest Hotel with me, and all the women at the hotel wanted a piece of him.

Q: Most Intelligent?
A:
That’s an easy one! Luke Keeler is a qualified engineer and currently studing to become a rocket scientist.

Q: Least Intelligent?
A:
Well I’ve gotta say my old sparring partner Jermain Taylor. While I’m not saying he is the least smart guy I know, but going out and shooting someone is certainly the least smart thing I’ve heard any of the pros I know doing.

Q: Hardest Puncher?
A: Phil Sutcliffe Jnr.
He has a reputation as a very hard hitter and I’ve seen him spar and he does hit hard. You can hear the thuds of the punches when he lands and he frequently damaged his hands from punching so hard. Tony Bellew, David Price, and Enzo Maccarinelli also hit very hard when I’ve seen them on the pads.

Q: Most Naturally Talented?
A:
I’d have to say Billy Joe Saunders and Tyson Fury. Although they do train hard, they give me the impression they don’t need to train hard. They’re both just very naturally talented fighters and it comes very naturally to them both.

Q: Cheapest?
A: Jono Carroll
always forgets his wallet. He’s so tight that his arse squeaks when he walks!

Q: Worst dancer?
A: Bradley Saunders
is the cheesiest and Niall Kennedy tripped his missus up in the first dance at his wedding! They’re both total shite, I’d pay to watch them have a dance-off.

Q: Worst Dress Sense?
A: Alex Arthur.
We recently went to a black tie charity event in Scotland and Alex Arthur had his black suit on with the whitest socks you’ve ever seen.

Q: Biggest Messers?
A:
Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan and Tommy Mac, it’s a toss up between them. They’re a bunch of messy funny feckers. I thought that video they did, the #UpJoyce one, was f*cking hilarious!

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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