Reigning champ admits it won’t be easy to retain – O’Toole believes light heavy is the pick of National Elite weights

Reigning light heavyweight National Elite Champion Thomas O’Toole believes he will have to navigate the most talent packed weight clash.

O’Toole become a force in the 81kg division with out right victory in the spring and cemented his status as one to watch in a Joe Ward-less division with a 4-1 split decision win over Brian Kennedy on Saturday night.

The Celtic Eagles boxer shined against a multiple underage Irish champ and is aware he will have to continue to impress in a weight class that welcomes back Tony Browne and is populated by emerging talent Kane Tucker and now Tommy Hyde defeater Paul McCullagh.

“There is no one in particular I’d like to fight. They are all good lads and I think my division is definitely the strongest in terms of the competition this year. Tony Browne is a great operator and Paul McCullagh hits hard,” the Galway man told Irish-boxing whilst keeping a firm eye on the action in the ring between Tony Browne and Peter Nosic.

Speaking on the decision O’Toole said “It was a close fight, I definitely got tired and Brian was pushing the action more than me, but he was mainly hitting gloves while I was catching him clean. I cut him open early on but he’s as tough as they come and he can take shots all day long, so the plan was just to get in there and move my feet because my footwork is my main attribute”.

Some heavy shots were landed by the two men who both showed iron chins in a contest that brought the Stadium to light, creating an electric atmosphere.

O’Toole mentioned he got tired, but it was all due to ring rust and he will believes he will be in better shape come Monday night.

O’Toole really rallied in the third round and reflecting on what he felt was an important stanza said: “In the first thirty seconds of the third round I caught him with a 1,2,3 combo and all three of them snapped his head back. I thought he maybe should have been given a count, but that’s boxing.

“I took  a lot of shots on the gloves which I shouldn’t have but the judges should see that they are not scoring”

O’Toole was very happy beating Kennedy as he rates his opponent highly saying “He’s a good lad to beat. A seven or eight-time Irish champion and he gave me a really hard fight as was expected and I’m happy to get that one under my belt.”