JUST one win, but plenty of entertainment.
That’s the brief story of the professional career of Michael O’Gara.
Gus Robinson’s head coach Peter Cope believes the popular fighter, better known as Mousey, is unlikely to tape up his gloves again because of work commitments.
O’Gara started his pro career with five defeats in a row. He was certainly unlucky to lose on his debut, a narrow points defeat in Clydebank against Scotsman Paul McElhinney.
A bad cut saw him lose to Ryan Walsh in London in his third outing while he pushed Irish star Willie Casey – a recent Prizefighter winner – all the way in Limerick last year, in a bout rated as the best of the night.
O’Gara lost again on points to McElhinney in January in Glasgow but the 33-year-old returned to Scotland’s biggest city just a fortnight later to claim his first victory.
“Mousey was a proper, proper nice lad,” said Cope. “He entertained the fans the way he fought and he gave it everything.
“He was an absolute pleasure to train and he lived for his boxing. He was a fit lad and he lived the right lifestyle, I just wished we’d got him a few years ago.
“But he’s enjoyed it and I think he did really well. I’m over the moon he got that win, he deserved it.
“He’s away working at the moment and that’s got to come first. We totally understand.”
WRIGHT BACK IN THE MIX.
Nigel Wright can look forward to another tilt at the British title after regaining his English light-welterweight championship.
His unanimous points victory over Dean Harrison at Houghton-le-Spring – following on from the win over Alex Arthur last December – has catapulted him back into the British scene.
Coach Peter Cope said: “We’d like either an English defence next or a shot at Lenny Daws for his British title.
“Whatever comes along, we’ll take, but we’d prefer a go at Lenny.
“He’s right back in the mix, that’s for sure.”
Wright lost only two rounds with two of the judges and three with the third, but it was a pretty convincing night’s work.
“We’d have loved a stoppage,” explained Gus Robinson head coach Cope, who was in the corner with Alan Temple.
“But it was a win and it was a good win.
“That kid had won 16 out of 19 going into the bout and he’s not bad.
“Nigel lost his way a little at one stage but for five or six rounds he made Dean look ordinary.
“After the bout Nigel complained a bit that he’d made hard work of it.
“Sky commentator Jim Watt told him he shouldn’t be harsh on himself and I agree with him.
“It wasn’t a bad performance at all and there’s plenty to build on.”
ALL VICTORIES ARE A CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION.
However Nigel Wright’s win over Dean Harrison was an especially sweet one.
Wright was a unanimous points winner over the Wolverhampton light-welterweight as he regained his English belt.
Harrison did have the “honour” of being the first man to inflict a count on Wright in a boxing career spanning two decades.
Yet, despite forcing the 31-year-old to briefly touch down with his left hand on the Rainton Meadows Arena canvas, the Gus Robinson star regained his composure quickly to record his 22nd pro victory and his fifth success in this particular championship.
Wright won on all three judges scorecards – Richie Davies and Mark Green both marking it 98-92 and their fellow Londoner Dave Parris 97-93.
Harrison had remarked in the build up to the 10-round match that he would be “too fresh and too young” for Wright.
The 26-year-old was a tough operator and lasted the course but it was Wright who looked the sharper and more skilled fighter.
Wright dominated the first half of the fight and looked to have won every one of the first five rounds.
The sixth was an untidy affair and round seven saw Wright re-impose himself, only to walk onto Harrison’s left hook right on the bell.
Even referee Howard Foster seemed to look twice, as if to say “did that really happen?”.
Wright was up and ready to box instantly, but the Doncaster official still had to count to eight before the southpaw settled back into his stool.
It did not put off Nigel, who finished the bout strongly to regain the belt he held between 2005-08.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Nigel.
“Credit to Dean, it was a corker of a punch but I wasn’t hurt, even if my pride was.
“There is work to do but I’m happy to have got my belt back.”
NIGEL WRIGHT WILL BE GOING FOR GOLD WHEN HE FIGHTS FOR THE ENGLISH LIGHT-WELTERWEIGHT TITLE.
Too often in the last few years, Wright has been forced to settle for ’silver medals’, losing to British and Commonwealth champion Ajose Olusegun (twice) and European champ Paul McCloskey.
Now the Gus Robinson star has the opportunity to get gold when he goes toe to toe with Dean Harrison for the English belt.
Harrison is confident. Very confident in fact. He’s fresh from a training camp in Ireland where he and stablemate Matthew Hatton were preparing for their title fights.
The 26-year-old from Wolverhampton has witnessed Hatton triumph in his European championship bout last weekend and he feels he will be “too young and too fresh” for Wright.
It is not a view which Nigel subscribes to.
“I feel fantastic,” said the 31-year-old.
“I feel I’m an all round better fighter now and there’s a good few years left in Nigel Wright.
“I’ve had to take the knocks in the last couple of years and I’ve may be felt sorry for myself in the past.
“But that is in the past. I’ve knuckled down and worked hard.
“I’m fitter and stronger than ever before and I’m confident I’ll get the win.”
Not that Nigel is being complacent.
He’s watched Harrison box before and rates him as a tough opponent.
“Dean is quite a good fighter – he’ll be fit and strong. I watched him challenge for the English title before and I thought he beat Scott Haywood, but he didn’t get the decision.”
Wright will start as favourite though.
Coach Peter Cope has been impressed with Nigel in the build up.
“Nigel has looked brilliant in training and I’ve seen a massive improvement in him, but now it is up to him to put all that into the ring,” said Cope.
“It’s a huge fight – a career-defining fight in fact.
“He does deserve another chance at the British title but he’s got to win this one first.”
Howard Foster will referee the contest with Richie Davies, Mark Green and Dave Parris the judges at ringside.
Tickets for the show are available at the door at Rainton Meadows Arena on the night.
A PROUD ENGLISH CHAMPION.
Nigel Wright was the king of England between 2005 and 2008 and he’s back in the ring looking to regain his old crown.
Wright takes on Dean Harrison (Wolverhampton) at Houghton-le-Spring for the vacant 10stone belt on Friday night in front of a large crowd and in front of the TV cameras on Sky Sports 2.
“It’s a good title to have – I enjoyed having that belt and I want it again,” said the Gus Robinson-managed southpaw.
“Some people may think it’s going over old ground, but for me it will be a step forward.
“I want to get a shot at Lenny Daws and the British title and winning this will help me achieve that.”
Victory would get the professional arm of the Gus Robinson gym back on the championship ladder.
While Gus Robinson Developments ABC have tasted glory in the amateur ring, there hasn’t been a pro title in the Stranton House HQ since Wright’s reign over England.
“The kids have done great,” said Nigel. “Young Peter Cope has won a few titles and he’s very good, I’ve sparred with him a lot.
“Ryan Brown became the National Schoolboys champion as well so it’s been a fantastic time for their team.
“It will be brilliant to get the English title, not just for me, but for Gus, old Peter Cope, Alan Temple and the whole organisation.”
TOP BOXING PROMOTER FRANK MALONEY SAYS HE IS DELIGHTED TO BE STAGING NIGEL WRIGHT’S ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE.
FTM Promotions are staging the Nigel Wright v Dean Harrison match for the English light-welterweight title on a bumper bill at Houghton-le-Spring on Friday, July 23.
Maloney has been a regular visitor to the region over the last three years following his signing of Tony Jeffries after the Sunderland boxer won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics.
And the chirpy cockney boxing figure is happy to be promoting the Wright fight and working with Gus Robinson.
“I started off up here in 2007 with Tony Jeffries’ home-coming fight,” said Frank.
“I only had two local fighters on that night in Sunderland and they were both Tommy Conroy boxers.
“From that night it’s grown and we’ve got 11 local lads on one side of the bill which is tremendous. And they are all keen.
“Nigel’s a good fighter who I’ve worked with before. I like Nigel.
“I’ve worked with Gus before and he’s someone I’ve got a lot of time and respect for.
“I like it up here in the North-East. This is the only part of the country where you can do a deal over the telephone and they don’t worry about you sending a written contract straight away.
“It’s the way I was brought up in boxing but it now only happens in the North-East.
“I like working with the boys up here.”
NIGEL WRIGHT IS MAKING “SMOOTH PROGRESS” TOWARDS ENGLISH TITLE SHOOT-OUT.
The Gus Robinson-managed light-welterweight has been sparring with stablemate Phil Boyle and gifted young County Durham amateur Henry James at the West View Road gym.
Wright is also due to spar with North-East light-middleweight Trevor ‘Wrecking’ Crewe as he builds towards his match with Wolverhampton’s Dean Harrison for the vacant English 10st-crown at Rainton Meadows Arena on Friday, July 23.
Coach Peter Cope said: “Things are going well at the moment, Nigel is making smooth progress.
“He’s only three pounds over the weight limit at the moment and we’re still nearly three weeks away from the fight.
“Nigel did eight rounds on Friday night and seven on Monday and we’re going to be sparring with Trevor Crewe, who’s a strong light-middleweight.
“I’m pleased with Nigel. He’s in good nick and looks in the right frame of mind mentally too.”
THE PERFECT BIRTHDAY PRESENT.
Nigel Wright enters his 32nd year on a high after being handed a shot at the English belt he proudly held from March 2005 until vacating it in September 2008.
Wright will face Wolverhampton’s Dean Harrison at Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton-le-Spring on Friday, July 23.
At 31, Wright is five years older than his fellow challenger for the vacant belt.
But Nigel was looking as fresh as the proverbial daisy as he spoke at Frank Maloney’s press conference to publicise the show.
“I’m happy,” Wright said. “I want to get my old title back and then, fingers crossed, get a shot at Lenny Daws.”
Harrison is no pushover however.
The 26-year-old from the Black Country has won 16 of his 19 bouts (five victories coming inside the distance) and in his last appearance he stopped Ben Lawler inside the first round his hometown to lift the Midlands Area crown.
Harrison has lost both his main title challenges – to Scott Haywood in September 2008 in Nottingham, where they were fighting for the English belt vacated by Wright, while he was stopped in four rounds by Paul McCloskey in Widnes in a British championship match in March 2009.
“I’ve watched Dean a couple of times before,” said Nigel. “He’s good, he’s fit and he’s game and I thought he was unlucky to lose against Scott Haywood.”
Wright’s record is an impressive one – 21 wins in 28 appearances, with just six losses.
His most recent outing saw him defeat ex-world champion Alex Arthur in Newcastle last December.
WRIGHT BACK IN THE MIX
Nigel Wright is looking forward to a shot at his old English title.
The Gus Robinson-managed light-welterweight is to fight Dean Harrison for the vacant English crown at Houghton-le-Spring on Friday, July 23.
Wright had been earmarked to challenge previous champ Stevie Williams in a 10-round bout which was also acting as an eliminator to the British championship.
It was a contest which Gus had wanted to promote at Spennymoor, only for the Liverpool camp to delay after citing an injury to their fast-emerging boxer.
Williams recovered so rapidly that he was fit enough to accept a British title shot with Lenny Daws!
But the frustration is over for Wright, Gus and coach Peter Cope.
Frank Maloney is promoting a show at Rainton Meadows Arena, where he will stage Wright v Harrison.
Messrs Maloney and Robinson will be applying to the British Boxing Board of Control for eliminator status, meaning the man who emerges with victory on July 23 will be in line for a tilt at the winner of Daws v Williams.
And Gus is hoping it will be all Wright on the night.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for Nigel,” said Gus. “Yes, he’s had opportunities before and it’s absolutely down to him to take this one. But he can do it and move forward his career.”
Wright has not boxed since his superb pre-Christmas win in Newcastle when he outpointed former world champion Alex Arthur.
It was a performance which was several notches above the limp display when losing a British and Commonwealth title challenge to Ajose Olusegun in Liverpool almost 12 months ago.
“To be fair to Nigel,” continued Gus. “He did a fantastic job last time out.
“Nigel has the ability to go and do it, but he did not deliver last time (against Olusegun) and the TV people weren’t happy.
“This is now a tremendous chance for him.”
HEAVYWEIGHT, HEAVY HITTER!
Gus Robinson’s pro boxing gym is well known for its talented “lighter” men like Nigel Wright, Michael O’Gara and Phil Boyle. However, Gus has a history with the heavyweights and in the late 80s and early 90s he had some of the best of British based in his Champs gym.
Now, there is another heavyweight on the scene – amateur star Gareth Beddows.Gareth is a member of Gus Robinson Developments ABC and he was a winner on the amateur arm of the organisation’s boxing show at Hartlepool Rugby Club.
Beddows defeated Birtley ABC’s Michael Ainsley at Mayfield Park in a real blood and guts battle.
The 28-year-old had the superior staying power and made his hard punching count. Ainsley played his part in the bout and suffered for his troubles, having his nose bloodied in the final round. Beddows deserved his unanimous decision, the judges marking it 14-12, 16-9, 10-8, while he also won the best boxer of the night prize.
There was defeat for Gareth’s team-mate Chris Noble, but he emerged with plenty of credit from a very close bout against Newcastle College ABC’s Chavez Pattinson. The Geordie looked a very capable boxer, but Noble had plenty of success, particularly as the contest wore on, scoring with his right hook and shots to Pattinson’s body. Unfortunately, the verdict went the Tynesider’s way, via a majority, the judges scoring it 16-12, 16-14, 10-12.
