Spike O’Sullivan wants to make knockout statement against “warrior” Rosado
Spike O’Sullivan [25(17)-2(1)] is close to having a major fight confirmed, and the Cork middleweight wants it to be the first of many, potentially culminating with a glorious homecoming.
Yesterday Irish-Boxing.com revealed that the Leesider is in advanced negotiations with two-time world title challenger Gabe Rosado [23(13)-11(4)] regarding a fight in Boston on Saturday September 30th which would headline a Golden Boy on ESPN card at the House of Blues.
Philly fighter Rosado has shared the ring with some of the best middleweight talents in boxing. He was stopped standing in the seventh and the tenth respectively in world title challenges against Gennady Golovkin and Peter Quillin. Last time out he lost a contentious majority decision to Martin Murray as well as fighting to scorecards defeats to Jermell Charlo and Willie Monroe and being stopped in the tenth by former world champ David Lemieux.
In his win column, ‘King’ has beaten Jesus Soto Karass, Joshua Clottey, and Kassim Ouma.
Giving an update on the progress, O’Sullivan told Irish-Boxing.com “I was talking to the guys at ESPN, they actually approached me after my last fight [in Boston in May] saying they were interested in having me as the main event on September 30th.”
“A TV date on ESPN, which is something I’ve always wanted to do because always through the years I watched the great fighters on ESPN. I grew up watching ESPN, so I’m delighted to get the opportunity, it’s great.”
“It’s Golden Boy in association with Murphys Boxing and I think it’s going to be in the House of Blues, where I’ve fought three times before, it’s a great arena, it’s like a home fight for me.”
“They’re in talks with Gabe Rosado and the deal’s expected to be done pretty soon. I’m excited by that fight because he’s been in there with good fighters, he’s a warrior, and that appeals to me..”
The mooted fight is just over five weeks away, but O’Sullivan has been ticking over in anticipation throughout the Summer. The 33 year old explained that “I was doing a little bit of sparring with Luke Keeler over the Summer, he was fighting for the Irish middleweight title, so I helped him out a bit.”
“Then I’ve been training down in UCC, down in the Mardyke Arena. I’m keeping in very good shape, I’ve been doing powerlifting and hill-sprints, my stamina is good, my strength is good, and now I’m just sharpening the tools to go to war.”
As listed above, Rosado has mixed it with many of the biggest names at the weight. In that sense, O’Sullivan wants to make a statement.
The Celtic Warriors man reasoned that “he did seven rounds with Golovkin and he was never knocked down – and I’m looking to test my power.”
“He put up a good show against Martin Murray. I sparred Martin in the past and I’ve made no secret about the fact that I’d like to fight Martin.”
“I’ve studied him a bit. He took up boxing at a late age and he’s done well. He’s has some good fights with Lemieux and Golovkin, Murray as well, and a couple of other guys.”
“My mission is to do better than Golovkin. He couldn’t drop him in seven rounds. I’d like to go out there and make a statement. Do better than what Martin Murray did, maybe even fight Martin Murray after it.”
Indeed the bout reminds O’Sullivan of his most famous win, and he described how “I kind of consider it like [Anthony] Fitzgerald.”
“He also was in there with big names, he was in there with the likes of Hassan N’Dam and Andy Lee, and neither of those guys could knock him out. I went in there to make a statement, I predicted I’d knock him out in one round, and I did.”
“I’m looking for something like that with Rosado.”
Always ambitious, a fight at Fenway Park in Boston next Summer had been suggested for the Murphys Boxing man. However, O’Sullivan has his eye on a newer venue just around the corner from his house.
The renovated Páirc Uí Chaoimh GAA stadium was opened in Cork this year, and O’Sullivan believes that a win next month could help set him on the road to fulfilling a dream and emulating a hero.
Spike outlined that “the very first boxing match I went to was in 1995, it was in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. It’s only a walk from my house, I walked to the fight, it was Chris Eubank Sr against Steve Collins, and I was hooked on boxing from then.”
“I wanted to be a professional and it was a dream of mine, a wild dream in 1995 as an 11 year old, and it’s becoming more realistic by the day. Boxing’s getting really good in Cork right now.”
“The new Pairc Ui Chaoimh, people are making the right noises about me fighting over there so I need to go over and put on a performance against Rosado, make a statement, and get a major name at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.”
