Cork boxing legend Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan ready for one last dance

During a spectacular professional boxing career, Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan graced the boxing boulevards of the world.

He now reflects on a journey that may not be quite over yet.

In September 1995, Gary O'Sullivan, on the shoulders of his father Denis, left Páirc Uí Chaoimh and journeyed through the old railway line to his home located in the leafy suburbs of Mahon. He had just witnessed Steve Collins defeat Chris Eubank for the second time that year to retain his WBO world super middleweight title.

To the starry-eyed 10-year-old, Collins, the Celtic Warrior, was a sporting god.

As the thousands drifted out of the stadium cheering and chanting 'Steve O, Steve O...' the young Spike became oblivious to his immediate surroundings, where the dazzling colour was complemented by a cacophony of sound.

By now, his mind had wandered. In his mind's eye, the first symptoms of a delightful dream were developing, and he was confirming to himself the aspiration that one day in the distant future he too would walk out of Páirc Uí Chaoimh a champion of the world. Then the celebrations and white noise of the elated fans promptly brought Spike back out of his faraway thoughts but he had made a promise to himself that he would one day emulate the illustrious achievement of his hero Collins.

However, in the world of reality, the sporting road ahead was mixed with elation and disappointment, which in life reflects the world of living with victory or defeat in the ring.

Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan in the zone. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

The majestic rise of the man from Mahon to fight at Madison Square Garden was a mega achievement; this for Spike was the Holy Grail, the Mecca of world boxing, where his lifetime boxing hero, the greatest Muhammed Ali, tread the boards in the 1960s.

For most fight fans, it would be an honour to enter this building's main auditorium, but to fight in the ring at that venue could be only a dream for a boxer from Cork.

Spike realised that dream and, in the process, made many friends and enjoys widespread admiration in the Big Apple. O'Sullivan came up through the amateur ranks and boxed with a number of local clubs, including Sunnyside and St Brendan's in the Glen.

Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan in the ring. Picture: Sportsfile

As a juvenile, he won county, Munster, and national titles. He then lost his zest for the sport and commenced an apprenticeship as a sheet metal worker. He excelled in this trade and was the national trade apprentice of the year. Having qualified, he took up full-time employment and then he rekindled his interest in boxing.

GLORY DAYS

In 2003, The Loughmahon Boxing Club was set up. Eventually, the club located a farmer’s barn on the grounds of Bessborough Convent and, bit by bit, converted it into a gym for the aspiring young boxing athletes around Blackrock.

The club was set up by Spike’s parents, Denis and Jacinta O’Sullivan. Spike became the head coach and was later assisted by Lee Cairns. In a short period, Loughmahon BC boasted 13 national champions and won the coveted Cork’s Most Successful Club of the Year in 2016.

Following his return to the Cork boxing scene in 2003, Spike was motivated to box competitively and for the next number of years, his fitness levels improved hugely.

In 2008, Pascal Collins, the brother of former world champion Steve Collins, was promoting a professional boxing night at the Neptune Stadium in Cork.

There were 10 fights on the bill, but one boxer was ruled out through injury that week. Collins made a frantic phone call to John Wiseman, asking could he recommend any local boxer around middleweight. Wiseman suggested he might talk to Gary 'Spike' O’Sullivan and… the rest is history.

Spike O’Sullivan’s first professional fight took place on January 28, 2008.

He gave a great display on the night, as he dismantled the Englishman Peter Dunne.

Following this victory, O’Sullivan was invited by Pascal Collins to turn pro and train at the Celtic Warrior gym in Dublin. Spike was now focused and enjoyed further rapid success, which earned him a shot at the middleweight Irish title, with his opponent being the well-known Belfast boxer Ciaran Healy.

The fight took place at a sold-out Neptune Stadium on December 4, 2009. Amongst Spike's supporters was the Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

Cork boxer Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan with the belts. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

On that night, he gave a vintage performance to become the middleweight champion of Ireland, the card was a ProAM and Spike’s LoughMahon club mate, Cian O’Brien, recorded a great victory to make it a club double on an occasion to remember for Cork boxing.

FIRST

The athlete, who played hurling with St Finbarr’s, soccer with Tramore, Gaelic football with Ballinure and rowed with Blackrock, had won his first belt.

Over the next three years, O’Sullivan won his 10 fights, which included winning his second belt in the US: That was the North American AFO belt.

In July 2012, on a world-heavy-weight title bill, Spike truly arrived on the international stage before 40,000 spectators and, watched live by millions on Sky Sport, Spike defeated Mathew Hall to win the prestigious WBO international belt.

O'Sullivan was the first Irish man to win this title and he received widespread acclimation.

Following this victory, Spike was invited to the Aras to meet President Michael D Higgins. O’Sullivan remained undefeated for the next two years, winning eight more fights and was ranked at number four in the world.

The Cork man was now moving, but due to a style confrontation lost a couple of fights, to Billy Joe Saunders and Eubank Junior.

However, Spike never displayed fear of any opponent. He fought all over the world and his opponents included Englishmen, Americans, Russians, Mexicans, French, and Canadians. In 2016 eight years into a professional career he was now earning good money and Spike boasted: 'I will fight anyone anywhere in the world'.

His greatest success came in 2017 in Quebec, Canada, when, against all the odds, he knocked out the favourite and world number two, Antoine Douglas, in the seventh round.

This result made Spike a serious world contender.

Spike had won the acclaimed WBO inter-continental middleweight title.

Following his sensational victory over Douglas, Spike had a succession of big-money fights. He defeated the highly ranked Berlin Abbrieu went on to fight David Lemilux. In the meantime, Spike was encouraged to keep on boxing by the illustrious Bernard Hopkins, who was the oldest man ever to win a world title at 49 years of age.

Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan, right, knocks out Anthony Fitzgerald in 2014. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/SPORTSFILE

In 2022, Spike fought Erislandy Lara, a Cuban for the world title. The fight took place in the biggest indoor stadium in the US in Brooklyn. However, the Cuban retained his title.

DREAM

For Spike O'Sullivan, the dream is still alive and there are talks about another big fight in the autumn and he maintains boxing was good to him. He confirmed the best contract he ever signed was the one when he bought his lavish home outright, providing permanent security for his partner Selina and his two beautiful children Ashley and Tommy.

Boxer Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan at Turner's Cross this season. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Spike has not gone away yet you know.

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