Boxer O’Reilly to defend his Lightweight title

It’s too long between bouts, but Josh O’Reilly finally gets to box on St. Patrick’s Day.

The Hamilton boxer, who won the International boxing Association Continental Lightweight Championship over Mexico’s Oscar Arjona in late October, will defend the title against another Mexican, Juan “El Tornado” Bedolla Orozco, at Mississauga’s Hershey Centre on March 17.

O’Reilly who trains at his home gym, Hamilton’s Steeltown Boxing Club, and with former international star Billy Irwin in Niagara Falls, says his family is “pretty Canadian” but is proud of its Irish roots.

“It’s always seemed kind of cool to me,” O’Reilly says of the date for his first title defence. “I always dreamed as a kid of fighting in Hamilton on Saint Patrick’s Day for a belt.

“This is close enough.

“This guy is tough. He comes forward, he’s trying to stick right in your chest. He likes to push forward with his head, and put strong pressure to your body.

“He’s a good fighter; all his losses are to tough guys.”

Since losing a unanimous decision to Kudratillo Abdukakhorov for the vacant WBF international welterweight title in April, 2016, Bedlloa Orozco has gone 10-4, with three of his losses coming to Canadians, including O’Reilly’s club mate Steve Wilcox last July.

Over the holiday season it’s been difficult to arrange bouts so O’Reilly, 10-0 with four KOs as a pro, is looking forward to his appointment with Bedolla Orozco.

“It’s a good test for me,” he says. “He’s fought a lot of good guys.”

Tickets are available through TicketMaster.ca or by calling 289808-7396.