Headline News

“The new heaviest-hitting light middleweight in the World” Spike O’Sullivan targets titles


Spike O’Sullivan [30(21)-3(2)] marked his arrival to the light middleweight ranks in devastating fashion on Saturday night.

Weighing in under 154lbs for the first time in a decade, the 34-year-old destroyed Khiary Gray in Boston on the Murphys Boxing ‘St Patricks Clash 4’ card and is now thinking World titles.

O’Sullivan broke down a strong opponent at the House of Blues, eventually forcing a stoppage in the sixth and the long-time strong middleweight puncher believes he hits harder than anyone at light middleweight.

“I believe I’m the new heaviest-hitting light middleweight in the world,” declared O’Sullivan before reiterating that he will be looking to box for the WBO title in the near future.

Young champion Jaime Munguia defends the brown belt against another Irishman, Kildare’s Dennis Hogan, at the Arena Monterrey in Mexico on April 13th, live on DAZN, and O’Sullivan will be there to challenge either his Golden Boy stablemate or his countryman depending on the result.

The confident Cork puncher outlined how “I’m going to take a flight out to Mexico next month. My next port of call will be ringside at Munguia versus Dennis Hogan.”

“Two good fighters and respect to them but I’ll be ringside and I’ll be there to challenge the winner.”

“I’m ready to step up and become light middleweight champion of the world.”

O’Sullivan had just defeated Gray in an entertaining slugfest.

It was his first ‘proper’ light middleweight fight since announcing his intention to move down following his WBA world title final eliminator loss to the far-larger David Lemieux last September.

O’Sullivan did have a relatively short notice fight in December in Mayo where he weighed in at 157lbs and largely went through the motions against the solid Gabor Gorbics.

Against Gray, though, it was completely different.

The local dangerman had started fast but the methodical pressure of the heavy-hitting Mahon man was too much, with spearing jabs and thudding backhands leaving his face a bloody mess.

Eventually the violent encounter was stopped in the sixth and O’Sullivan described how “it was a great, entertaining fight, as always, for the fans.”

“I figured he’s a junior middle and I’m coming down from middleweight and I feel like a very strong junior middle.

“He’s a very good fighter, a quality fighter. He was very sharp, he goes by the name ‘Too Sharp’ Khiary Gray and he lived up to his billing tonight.”

“He started really quick but I was always confident I’d get him out of there in the end with the big bombs.”

dpg

logo may

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

x