Still world title hope for Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan

Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan [30(21)-3(2)] is on verge of officially confirming a massive fight with reigning WBO light middleweight world champion Jaime Munguia [34(27)-0].

It was reported yesterday the pair had agreed to trade leather and Golden Boy Promotions were keen to put the fight on at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas on January 11.

Irish-boxing.com understands a deal has been agreed in principle, but the contract has yet to be signed.

It may not be a stumbling block as to whether the fight goes ahead or not, but one of the things yet to be decided is what weight the fight will play out.

Mungiua, who has defended his title five times, and his team are keen to move up to middleweight.

They have suggested as much for sometime now – and after he was very fortunate to get the decision against Dennis Hogan in Mexico in April just gone the move to 160lbs looked likely.

The Mexican did stay at light middle for his last fight, a victory over Patrick Allotey, but all the talk pre and post that September win was about a weight upgrade.

Indeed, it was widely believed that, that win would be his last in the 154lbs division.

As a result yesterday’s reports suggested a January fight with the Cork favourite would play out at middle. The news wasn’t ideal for Mahon man, Spike considering the 35-year-old looks reinvigorated since moving down a weight, plus the fact it would mean the title would be on the line.

However, it seems a final decision with regard to what weight a bout, that has war written all over it, will take place at has yet to be decided.

Respected source and boxing writer Michael Benson today confirmed Golden Boy are planning O’Sullivan Munguia, two fighters they have a good relationship with, for January 11, but have yet to decide in which division it will happen.

🇲🇽🇮🇪 Jaime Munguia vs Spike O’Sullivan is being planned for January 11th at the Alamodome in San Antonio, according to Golden Boy. They added that it is not yet decided whether the fight will be a defence of Munguia’s WBO super-welterweight belt or his middleweight debut. [@ESPN]

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) November 19, 2019

Such is the scalp on offer that the Pascal Collins trained ‘Spike’ will take the fight at either weight, but there is no doubt it’s more appealing at 154lbs.