Josh O’Reilly targets Canadian title and eventual return to Ireland

Josh ‘Dubs’ O’Reilly [6(1)-0] continues his climb up through the ranks in Canada on Saturday.

The 25-year-old super featherweight boxes at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, less than an hour from his home town of Hamilton. Here he will face Mexican light welter Angel Sarinana [7(3)-3(2)-2] in what will be his first eight rounder.

The hot prospect has been matched well so far in his career, and O’Reilly told Irish-Boxing.com that “I feel this fight is the toughest test to date. I am very happy so far with how my career has gone. I have been improving with every fight and that is the most important thing.”

“I am excited to show people some more elements of my game, and what we have been working on in the gym. I am a technical boxer. I am very tall for the weight. I try to use my advantages, I enjoy mixing it up sometimes as well though.”

Intensely proud of his Irish roots, O’Reilly is a regular visitor to the land of his ancestors, and was based here for a few months during his late teens. During this time he even shared the ring with one of Ireland’s greatest amateurs, John Joe Nevin, on a club show.

Recalling the fight, O’Reilly laughingly admits that “I got whooped!”

“I fought John Joe at 17 or 18 years old I believe, I only had about 20 amateur fights. It was a great experience. I met some great people and eventually wound up training down at Cavan BC for a few months.”

A return to these shores in the future appeals to the , he said that “I’d definitely be up to fight down there [Ireland] as a pro in the future if that was ever a possibility.”

First however, O’Reilly has plans in his own continent. He outlined how “I’m looking to get an impressive victory this weekend, and fight for a Canadian Title at some point next year. The next step after that would to become North American Champ within the next 3 years.”

“But it is one step at a time, and I have to take care of business Saturday night.”