Irish middleweight Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan is fast becoming a force in the industrious middleweight division. Four stoppages in his last four fights, “Spike’s” career seems to be gaining steam since a unanimous decision loss to Billy Joe Saunders nearly two years ago. O’Sullivan’s most recent success came in Boston, with a 2nd round KO over Melvin Bettancourt on the under card of James DeGale vs Anthony Dirrell
I was very fortunate to speak with “Spike” where we talked about fighting in America, travelling to Kazakhstan to fight Gennady Golovkin, what happened with the Chris Eubank Jr fight and dreams of fighting for a world title in his native Ireland.
Adam Noble-Forcey: You recently have come off of another stoppage win in Boston on the 23rd of May. You seem to be trying to make a real statement and get rid of your opponents early?
Gary O’Sullivan: You don’t get paid for overtime in my game. I like to enjoy myself in there and make it an exciting fight for the fans.
Adam Noble-Forcey: In such a fashionable division, who would you like to fight next?
Gary O’Sullivan: There is quite a few out there, Andy Lee would be good. An all Irish title fight, two Irishman fighting for a world title for the 1st time in history, I would like that! Gennady Golovkin, I would like that fight. He is number one in the middleweight division and that is where I want to be, I would love that challenge.
Chris Eubank Jr is a fight I would like. I think he is very arrogant and fake and he’s only got to where he’s got through his father’s name. I would like to put him in his place, he’s very arrogant and I’d like nothing better than to knock him out.
Adam Noble-Forcey: What happened with the proposed fight with Chris Eubank Jr? There were reports that you turned it down.
Gary O’Sullivan: Really to be honest with you. If I had agreed to fight Chris Eubank Jr, the options on the contract were that first they wanted me for five fights and then they wanted me for three fights after that! Frank Warren then wanted three fights after the Eubank fight plus a rematch clause with Eubank — which I had no problem. I think I would give him such a beating in the first fight he wouldn’t want a rematch.
I had no problem with the rematch (clause), but they wanted me for another three fights and the thing is, I was with Frank Warren for four years and he’s a promoter and I already have a promoter in America. It made no sense to go back to Frank Warren.
In the end we wanted the Chris Eubank Jr fight so much that we actually agreed we would have the three fights with Frank Warren afterwards. Then the money became a stumbling block on top of that. I didn’t want to sign for three fights anyway, but I was willing to do it to get the fight! They wanted me to agree immediately the money for the next three fights. Which is very unreasonable, I don’t think they ever wanted the fight really.
Adam Noble-Forcey: You have been fighting in America a lot recently. Ideally where would you like to fight next?
Gary O’Sullivan: I’m willing to fight anywhere. I’d go to Kazakhstan tomorrow to fight Gennady Golovkin tomorrow, I don’t mind, I’m not one bit afraid. I’ll fight anybody, anywhere, anytime. That’s no shit, I honestly would. I would love to fight in my home of Cork, I said to my manager I would love to fight at home and he seemed keen on the idea. So hopefully I could get a fight in Cork, with a bit of luck.
Adam Noble-Forcey: With the new ranking about to come out, could we see you not to far from a mandatory position?
Gary O’Sullivan: Yeah, the WBA ranking will be out soon and I should be at least ranked in the top 5. The title I just won, the last 3 fighters who won that belt went on to fight for a world title in their next fight. When Any Lee won it, he went on to fight Matt Korobov and Willie Monroe Jr won and he went on to fight Gennady Golovkin for it.
When Willie Monroe Jr went to fight Gennady Golovkin he was 19-1. I’m 21-1, so I’ve got a better record than when Willie Monroe Jr fought for a world title. I see there being no reason why I shouldn’t be fighting for a world title now.
(Click play to listen to the Gary O’Sullivan interview in it’s entirety)
Another KO vitim for triple G
GGg isnt ubeatable..Spike is very hungry and has the desire to pull an upset off
I like his enthusiasm, at least he’s someone who isnt trying to avoid Golovkin like the plague. That being said, it’s probably best for him to avoid Golovkin like the plague haha. Good luck in you future mate
Impressive lad, a fight with Andy Lee would be tremendous for Ireland. As long as he can avoid the power of Lee, he has a good shot of winning because Andy is not hard to find. I just wonder if Andy will do an immediate rematch with Kid Chocolate to settle their fight.