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Graham McCormack O’Shea promising composure – and a KO – in second fight


Graham McCormack O’Shea [1(0)-0] is determined to keep calm when he fights as a pro for the second time in Waterford this weekend.

The Limerick man admits he lost the head and got caught up in the atmosphere when he made his pro bow and as a result nearly lost his head more literally as Richard Baba caught and hurt him with a big shot early on.

The new to the pro game southpaw got caught up in first fight emotion in front of a sizable support last time out but is planning on being more clinical and cold-blooded when he takes on Hungarian Jozsef Takacs [3(0)-9(4)] on the Ring Kings card set for the WIT Arena this Saturday. 

“This opponent is a lot more experienced than my last opponent so I won’t be taking any chances. I will be going in there and sticking to my team’s gameplan. I will do everything off the gameplan I am not losing my head like last time,” O’Shea told Irish-Boxing.com ahead of his second fight.

“I plan on getting in there and showing that I can box. Last time I got caught up and threw the game plan out the window. This time I will be more composed and focused and when I get an opportunity to take him out I will be taking him out, one hundred percent.”

Tasked with ensuring the popular fighter trades off guile and not just guts moving forward is N7 duo Eddie Hyland and Tommy McCormack.

The Tallaght two are working on refining the 30-year-old Munster man’s skill set and the fighter claims he is developing with each passing week he spends in Dublin.

“Camp has gone great to be honest. I have really gelled with Eddie and Tommy. I am listening to everything they have to say and working on a lot of different things. I am really enjoying it all.”

“I have been learning and I am more settled now. The first camp was all excitement and buzz now I am more focused and hungrier than I have ever been.”

“Eddie’s been working on what he knows works for me. We are working on my boxing, picking my shots, sitting down on my punches and working on defence. I am learning every day I am in the gym and  I am getting better every single day.”

There seems to be a real buzz developing around McCormack O’Shea in his home city and a sense of goodwill that can only bode well for a fighter trying to build on the small hall circuit.

That admiration was reflected in ticket sales when the light middleweight made his debut in Dublin late last year and the support hasn’t gone unnoticed by the happy-go-lucky puncher.

“I have definitely noticed it,” he responded when asked about his growing fan base.

“It’s great, it makes me work harder. I love all the support I have from Limerick. it’s absolutely amazing and since I’ve turned pro it’s been great, great for this fight and the last. I am blessed to be in this situation.”

With such a support base – and the fact the Ring Kings show set for Waterford this weekend proves its possible to run a fight night outside of Dublin or Belfast – people are starting to wonder if with a few more wins under his belt could McCormack be the man to tempt a promoter to return to Limerick.

It’s something the fighter and his team have discussed but, for now, winning in Waterford is all that matters.

“Down the road that is something I will relish and something I would absolutely love. It has been mentioned between myself and my management team, but we are fully focused on the 17th of February now and I will take it one fight at a time.”

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

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