Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan: One of the best boxers Cork ever produced

NOW in the autumn of his professional career, Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan is undisputedly one of the greatest boxer’s Cork has ever produced.

His conversion to the professional boxing circuit was late, but he lost no time in making an impact as a middleweight with a big punch.

Over the last 150 years, Cork has been renowned as a great city for producing top-class boxers.

The sport has enjoyed a great tradition on Leeside, and many outstanding amateur boxers have made major headlines as national and international champions and as Olympians.

Arguably, however, only five have had the potential to seriously embrace the mantle of world championship contenders: Jack McAuliffe, Pakey O’Mahony, Jack Doyle, Mick Leahy, and Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan.

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 Mohammed 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.

‘Spike’ came up through the amateur ranks, and boxed with a number of local clubs, including Sunnyside and St Brendan’s in the Glen.

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 trade apprentice of the year. Having qualified, he took up full-time employment and then he rekindled his interest in boxing.

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.

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 of time, 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.

VINTAGE

On that night, ‘Spike’ gave a vintage performance to become the middleweight champion of Ireland, the card was a Pro.AM 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. 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-heavyweight 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.

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 No 4 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.

‘Spike’ O’Sullivan’s greatest success came in 2017 in Quebec, Canada, when, against all the odds, he knocked out the favourite and World No 2, Antoine Douglas, in the seventh round.

Spike had won the acclaimed WBO intercontinental middleweight title. This was his finest hour in the ring.

His record to date shows 37 fights, 32 wins 23 by KO and five defeats. Spike is hoping to fight in Boston later this year.

Meanwhile, the sympathy of all in Cork Boxing Circles has been extended to the Wiseman family, following the death of Eileen, mother of John, secretary of the Cork County Board.

May She Rest In Peace.