NEGOTIATIONS continue for Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan’s proposed May 9 Wembley Arena middleweight bout with Chris Eubank Jr.
O’Sullivan’s popular trainer Paschal Collins, who runs the Celtic Warrior Gym in Dublin, told The Irish Post on Monday that there is still a chance the London fight might happen.
“We will know very soon,” Collins said. “We are trying to get it sorted - there definitely is still a chance it will go ahead."
"We will know in the next couple of days. We have agreed to take the fight and we want it to go ahead. We hope it happens, I am in contact with Frank Warren Boxing and Ken Casey (O’Sullivan’s manager).”
Cork native O’Sullivan admitted it is ‘frustrating’ waiting for word back from the Eubank camp. “I’ve heard nothing back from the Eubank camp which is disappointing because this would be a great fight.
“They had 10 days to sign the contract, but that hasn’t been done so far. I’ve been very vocal in my pursuit of this fight.
“I think that he is afraid he will be beaten. That is the issue; I think he is terrified of that happening. He is too nervous about what could happen to him.
“If you look through it I think he has tried to call out guys unrealistically at different times. Then when I had agreed to fight Anthony Fitzgerald in Dublin on the Matchroom card he tried to save face by saying he wanted to fight me.
“I called his bluff by going straight to Frank Warren’s office to tell him once I’d fought Fitzgerald I’d gladly fight Eubank Jr. I’m still waiting for it to happen, but I know Frank Warren wants this fight.
“That type of thing has happened at various stages, but I’ve repeatedly tried to make this fight with Eubank Jr happen. Frank Warren is pushing for it.”
O’Sullivan’s splendid November success over Fitzgerald at the 3Arena in Dublin injected his career with momentum again.
“Yes, I think the way that fight went gave me a profile and has helped to re-ignite my career. After I lost to Billy Joe Saunders I went through a difficult period in my career, but now I am in good shape and I just want big fights.
“Going to the States was a great experience for me and working alongside Ken Casey has been brilliant. It was surreal the few weeks I spent over there for my last fight. I was walking down the street near Madison Square Garden and people were shouting out the windows of their cars at me.
“I did a radio interview and when I went into the studio Evander Holyfield was in there. He is my idol. For the few weeks I thought I was in a dream.
“I’m happy to fight anywhere. It doesn’t matter to me where I fight; a boxing ring is a boxing ring. Obviously it is great to fight in Ireland, the States is something else, and from Twitter I see I’ve a growing number of fans in the UK.”
If the bout with Eubank Jr falls through Collins confirmed that O’Sullivan would fight in Boston on May 23 on the undercard of James De Gale’s world IBF title clash with Andre Dirrell.
“We are looking at Boston in May if the fight with Eubank doesn’t happen. That is our plan at the moment if the Eubank Jr one doesn’t come through,” Collins revealed.
Jono Carroll will fight in Leeds on April 11. Photo: INPHO.Trainer Collins is excited about the progress Jono Carroll, who recently signed for Matchroom, is making. “Jono will be in action in Leeds soon, he has only been with me for a while, but he has real potential. He is fighting at super featherweight, but he will be a featherweight.
“The exposure he is getting with Matchroom is brilliant. Everything they have promised him so far they have delivered on it.
“For fighters coming through they need exposure and that is what he is getting by fighting on Sky Sports. He is progressing very nicely; he should have five fights in the next year or so that will help him develop further.”
Luke Keeler, who suffered a wrist injury during the middleweight Prizefighter in May, will also link up with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom. “Luke Keeler would have won Prizefighter if he hadn’t suffered an injury. Luke is a very, very good fighter, I’ve discussed it with him and it will be great for him to be involved with Matchroom too,” Collins said.
