“My Year” – Gabriel Dossen targets Euro U22 redemption and plans Elite takeover

Gabriel Dossen is aiming to take over the Irish middleweight division this year but has a bit of unfinished business in the amateur ranks to attend to as well.

The Galway middleweight retained his Irish Under-22 title on Friday night in what looks to be the perfect preparation for an assault on the Elites and Michael Nevin’s crown next month.

However, the win was also important for Dossen in that it likely sealed his passage to the European Under-22 Championships in Russia in March.

There are the European Games and World Championships to look forward to this year, should he win the Elites, but the underage continentals in Vladikavkaz are also on Dossen’s to-do list.

The World and European Youth bronze medallist represented Ireland at the tournament last year in Targu Jiu, Romania, where he was edged out in the quarter-finals by Georgian Giorgi Kharabadze and he wants a podium finish at his second attempt in March to kick off a big year internationally

“This year, I think, is going to be my year,” he told Irish-Boxing.com following his final win over Crumlin’s John Joe Nevin.

“Last time I missed out on a medal against Georgia, a very close fight.”

Outlining his 2019 plans, 19-year-old Dossen declared that “I want to do everything. I’m straight back into training, weigh-in in two weeks, and I’ve another tough spar this week.”

“I’ve the Elites coming up and the qualifiers for the Olympics.”

“I’m confident. My name is out there. The whole year last year I was training myself for these Elites. I’ve spent my whole life working towards this.”

Dossen put in a smart performance to retain his title on Friday, beating a talented foe in the process.

“It was a very good fight,” he reflected.

“The first round, my gameplan was just to touch and not get involved.”

“I was sparring during the week with a very good boxer, I won’t name him, but a very good boxer. I was very sharp during the sparring and that prepared me very well for this fella because he didn’t really want to engage, he’d wait, wait, wait, then come in with a flurry of shots.”

“All the rounds were the same, really, I didn’t come out of gear too much. I sometimes tried to push it too much but when I waited for him he would come.”

“I was sharp and very patient during the fight and that’s what made me win.”