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No “knock-overs” for Crank Whitehouse who wants to “make a statement this year”

Gerard ‘Crank’ Whitehouse [5(1)-0] will return to the ring on April 1st at the National Stadium to kick off what he believes will be a statement-making year.

The Balbriggan welterweight endured a frustrating 2016, but would end it on a high and now wants to continue going from strength to strength this year

Injury and a lack of opportunity confined Whitehouse to just one fight last year, however he still managed to make a step up and put on a career-best performance. This came in a six round Fight of the Year candidate with Sergio Abad, and the Dubliner wants to continue his trend of tough fights.

Still only 21, Whitehouse recalled to Irish-Boxing.com how “I was out for such a long time last year. Last year was a very frustrating year for me with the lack of shows, and all the other boxers were in the same boat as me, they weren’t getting exposure or fights in Dublin.”

With his injury problems hopefully behind him and a string of dates lined up under Tony Davitt and promotional newcomers It’s A Bout Boxing Ireland, the Bracken boxer is anticipating a brighter 2017.

“I’ve been having treatment for the tendon in my hand, getting physiotherapy, and it’s all good now,” he explained. “Now there’s lots of dates lined up. I’m ready to go, so I’m looking forward to a good year, a busy year this year. I’m looking to make a statement this year.”

The ambitious Fingal fighter, who wants at least four bouts in 2017, is hoping to be given decent tests this year, and stressed his desire to be matched well. Whitehouse outlined how “if you look at fellas I’ve been matched with, they’ve not been knock-overs. You learn nothing going out and knocking a fella out in a round or two. Yeah, it’s great to get the knockout, and it’s great for the crowd to see you knocking someone out – but you don’t learn anything from it.”

“You can say ‘you can get rounds in sparring, and experience in the gym,’ but you can’t. You can’t experience the fight, with the t-shirt off, and them little gloves, and to have a row and a good boxing match. You can’t experience that anywhere else other than just getting in and doing it.”

Looking back at his most recent fight against Abad, who will box Jay Byrne on February 25th, Whitehouse described how “he was a very good fella. He’s a lot better than what his record says. He was very, very tough, he was very, very game, and he wanted to win that fight. Halfway through the second round I hurt my right hand, so I was kind of limited with what I could do in there”

“I took good improvements from that fight. I hadn’t been in the ring for a whole twelve months and to come back, move up to six rounds, and to box a fella like that. I was delighted to end my year like that.”

Photo Credit: Laszlo Geczo Photography

Joe O’Neill and Gavan Casey look ahead to 2017 in episode 1 of The Irish Boxing Show

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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