Boxer Michael O’Reilly from Togher BC is the first winner of the Tim O'Sullivan Cup

THE indomitable spirit of the late Tim O’Sullivan, the Leeside boxing legend once again prevailed at the recent Cork County Boxing Championships.

To perpetuate the memory of the co-founder of the Cork Ex-Boxers Association, the County Boxing Board launched the Tim O’Sullivan Cup. 

This Cup will be presented each year at the County Championships and the recipient will be the boxer judged to be the most outstanding during the Championships weekend.

The inaugural presentation of the prestigious Cup took place recently and the first winner was Michael O’Reilly from the Togher Boxing Club. 

This young man displayed tremendous boxing ability with a combination of spirit, style, endurance and class, over the three days of Championship Boxing.

The Cup was presented to young Michael by Paddy Mc Sweeney. Paddy was a close friend and confidant of Timmy O’Sullivan for well over forty years, and it was both fitting and appropriate that he should do the honours.

Mc Sweeney said, he was delighted to see the County Board acknowledging Tim’s contribution to the promotion of boxing in Cork for many years and he added, “As long as this Cup is presented at the County Championships, Tim’s name will live on."

For many years, Tim O’Sullivan was the face of boxing in Cork. 

He was the bridge who could link the past to the present. For any boxing story of any significance breaking in the media, and with a Cork connection, the opinion of only one man was sought, and that was unquestionably Tim O’Sullivan.

Many of The Echo’s or The Examiner’s sporting scribes, Willie Cotter, Billy George, Brendan Mooney etc. would always seek out the man from Maylor Street. 

This City centre street was where O’Sullivan worked out of, in his physio practice. Here he was surrounded by a lifetime’s collection of photos, press cuttings and boxing memorabilia.

Tim O’Sullivan was steeped in Cork boxing since 1940. 

His participation as a boxer, coach and administrator spawned eighty years. During the first weekend in February 2020, Tim once again attended the Cork County Championships, which took place at the then Cork Boxing headquarters in Churchfield.

O’Sullivan was then a remarkable and sprightly ninety-two years of age. 

He watched many of the bouts with great enthusiasm and his boxing brain was still razor sharp. 

He was very pleased when asked to present the Medals to some of the County Champions. 

Sadly, however, this would be the last time the ageless wonder would grace the Cork Boxing stage.

In the week prior to his death in October 2020, Tim said, “The last ten years have been fantastic for me, and Cork Boxing”, and he added with a warm smile, “If I had not seen it, I would never have believed how this sport has risen almost from the death."

During those years, the former Irish International Boxer had returned to the Office of President of the Cork Ex-Boxers Association. 

This group were now driven by a new wind, which had pumped oxygen into ageing bodies. 

A high tide was now lifting all boats, and things were happening in every area on Cork Boxing.

Gary ‘Spike O’Sullivan was making International headlines in the world Middleweight ranks. 

Tim was invited to accompany him, as a member of the Loughmahon BC. 

When they visited by invitation the President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin. 

Cork’s young boxers were winning record numbers of National Titles year after year. World and European Gold, Silver and Bronze Junior boxing Medals were returning to Leeside, from International Championships. 

The sport was enjoying massive publicity and coverage consistently in The Echo, R.T.E. and TG4 had covered various boxing events in Bishop Lucey Park, and the now famous Cork Boxing Breakfast was honouring many boxers from the past who were forgotten, but were now being acknowledged by the sport.

During his lifetime, Tim encouraged many young boxers. 

Well into his eighties Tim began again attending Championships in the National Stadium and every meeting, and boxing event which took place in Cork or Dungarvan. 

He was energised to a level no drug could match. Everywhere he went Tim had a story to tell, and always dressed immaculately for each occasion.

A frequent visitor to Cork’s City Hall, Tim was honoured there by then Lord Mayor Cllr. Tony Fitzgerald to mark his 90th Birthday. 

In 2018, he received the prestigious IABA Hall of Fame Award at a Dinner in Dublin.

On that night, Tim was asked what was his most cherished memory from boxing and he replied, “Leading Cork’s young All-Ireland Champion Boxers in the Annual Parade at Bishop Lucey Park, before they were presented with their Jack McAuliffe Gold Medals."

In launching the Tim O’Sullivan Cup the President of the Cork County Boxing Board, Michael O’Brien said: “Tim represented all that was good about boxing, he always set the highest standards and this Cup will replicate these standard by presenting it to a boxer each year who displays the hallmark of Tim O’Sullivan’s boxing principles."