Golden boy McCormack coasts to big time
PAT McCormack came into 2018 knowing he needed a big year to get his name out there.
Well, the Washington welterweight has certainly planted his flag on the Gold Coast for all to see after claiming Commonwealth gold yesterday.
The 22-year-old had far too much class for his Northern Irish opponent, Aidan Walsh, in the final, claiming a unanimous win in the -69kg category.
After failing to get a medal at either Glasgow 2014 or Rio 2016, McCormack has certainly made a mark now, while his twin brother Luke also claimed bronze.
And the newly crowned Commonwealth champion admitted that Anthony Joshua – who trains and lives with the GB boxing squad for parts of the year – had inspired him to reach new heights.
“Anthony has made a great contribution, he is in the gym all the time and he started on the squad that we are now on, coming to these tournaments,” he said.
“So if he started from there to how good he is now, it just shows that anyone can do it. When he is in the gym – the heavy- weight champion of the world – doing the same training as us.
“I want the riches, the fame and the glory like him. I might not be as big as him but if I get half of that or quarter, I will be happy.
“This gold medal feels great, I was a bit young in Glasgow and two weights lighter so I was killing myself at the weight but since then I have experienced an Olympics and the pressure didn’t get to us. I boxed well when it mattered.”
With Walsh on the back foot and often refusing to engage with McCormack, the 22-year-old had to box clever and outthink his opponent.
And after his brother’s defeat in his semi-final at -64kg, the European silver medallist admitted he had all the motivation he needed.
“He obviously had his tactics to go on the back foot and try to pinch the fight but I cut him off, I was beating him to the shot and out-worked and out-strengthed him,” he added.
“I watched Luke’s fight before my semi-final, I thought Luke was throwing the cleaner punches but the other lad was throwing more and Luke didn’t do enough.
“All day I was fuming after that so I took it out on my Indian opponent and gave him a bit of a hiding.
“All day I was in a mood – then I saw my dad and told him I would make sure that I won.”