BILLY JOE NEXT ON HITLIST FOR IN-FORM SPIKE
CORK middleweight Gary O’sullivan wants another cut at Billy Joe Saunders after both men impressively won on the same card in Canada on Saturday night.
‘Spike’ O’sullivan stopped American Antoine Douglas to claim the vacant WBO intercontinental belt in the chief support bout and Saunders (below) outclassed David Lemieux to retain his WBO world middleweight title in the main event.
“I’m smack on now for a cut at the world title and I’m looking forward to a massive 2018,” said O’sullivan.
The Cork orthodox was beaten by Saunders, who dethroned Andy Lee to secure the WBO strap in 2015, at London’s Wembley Arena in 2013.
On Saturday night the first six rounds were fairly even but the pendulum began to swing in O’sullivan’s favour after he found the target with three solid hooks in the sixth.
Douglas’ game plan unravelled after he was backed onto the ropes by a massive right in the seventh and the Mahon boxer finished the job with a barrage of shots. O’sullivan detonated 130 of 447 (29 per cent) of his total punches, and 102 of 291 (35 per cent) of his power shots.
The weekend’s win improves O’sullivan to 27 victories from 29 outings and improves his KO ratio to 66 per cent after victory over an opponent who had only been stopped once in 24 fights prior to Saturday. It also opens the door for a tilt at the big one.
“I want Saunders,“said the man from the Rebel County, though Saunders was busy calling out Gennady Golovkin after his own victory. “I got the win, I think in impressive fashion. I caught him a few times. He’s a tough guy. He’s never been down like that before, he’s got a good chin.”
Paschal Collins, brother of former World champion Steve, was working O’sullivan’s corner in Quebec.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s Danny Calhoun fought the law and the law won in Boston on Saturday. Calhoun was stopped in the second round by Wexford Garda Niall Kennedy.
The victory saw unbeaten Kennedy improve to 10 straight wins and retain his New England heavyweight belt and add an Americas title to his CV.