Spike wins Middleweight title

On his 28th birthday, Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan became the WBO International Middleweight champion. The fight, which took place last Saturday night, was followed by the meeting of Dereck Chisora and David Haye at West Ham United's Upton Park Stadium. O'Sullivan, who is a Mahon native, was facing Manchester's Matthew Hall and won the match on a unanimous points decision. Hall put up a determined and forcible opposition but it was the Cork man who came out on top on a scoreline of 117-111, 115-114 and 117-111.

O'Sullivan has been boxing in Cork since the age of five and he has previously won an Irish BUI and American ABO titles. He started off at St Brendan's of the Glen, then he moved on to Belgooly Boxing Club and he then moved to Sunnyside club where he was coached by Olympian Kieran Joyce. At the age of 18 O'Sullivan formed the Loughmahon boxing club which currently has over 100 members. Saturday's win brings his record to 15 wins from 15 fights with nine of those finishing in knockouts.