Golden era – De La Hoya is considering Irish shows

Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan [27(19)-2(1)] could be set for a big homecoming, with the Cork middleweight claiming that one of the World’s biggest promotional companies are considering entering the Irish market.

The Celtic Warriors fighter claimed a career-best stoppage win over Antoine Douglas in Canada at the weekend, and is keen to return to Ireland after over three years away.

Outside of Belfast, the last few years been relatively barren in terms of big time boxing in Dublin. Since the Bernard Dunne glory era the likes of Brian Peters, Tommy Egan, Dolphil, MTK and now Red Corner, Tony Dunlop, Boxing Ireland, and SK Promotions have run shows without really hitting the heights of the much beloved Dunne days.

News that Matchroom are plotting a big Katie Taylor 3Arena homecoming has raised hopes for 2018, and ‘Spike’ has given fight fans another reason to dream big by revealing Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy are Ireland keen.

The Mahon man signed a four fight deal with the promotional company and made the most of bout number one by upsetting American prospect Douglas in style, live on HBO on Saturday past.

O’Sullivan says a clash with David Lemieux had been mooted for St Patrick’s Day in New York but, after the Canadian lost to Billy Joe Saunders on the same Montreal fight card, that may be a non runner.

However, if he doesn’t get a massive fight around March on the East Coast, a homecoming maybe an option alongside fellow Golden Boy fighters Jason Quigley and Aaron McKenna.

“Golden Boy Promotions are backing me too — I’ve signed a four-fight deal with them so if I beat this guy, it all opens up,” O’Sullivan told the Irish Examiner.

“They have already spoken to me about doing a show back [in Ireland].”

“They’ve got Jason Quigley and people like Aaron McKenna who could also be on the card.”

Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Promotions look set to return to Dublin in April for Katie Taylor’s homecoming, and a mesh of these two plans looks a distinct possibility.

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)