A PROFESSIONAL Northside boxer remains defiant and insists he will get a shot at a world title despite his upcoming fight being cancelled at short notice.
The hopes of Oisin
‘Gaelforce’ Fagan from Kinsealy were dashed recently when his fight for the title with English boxer Chris Goodwin was called off.
The two boxers were due to go toe-to-toe in the Neptune Stadium in Cork on December 14.
Despite the 15-year age difference between the fighters (Oisin is 39, Goodwin is 24) the brash Northside boxer was confident that he would have taken the title without too much of a challenge.
“I think Chris’s team in England had expected me to be unfit and out of shape because of my age but I’m sure word got out that I’m at the top of my game,
? he told Northside People.
“I had a feeling that the fight would be cancelled because of how reluctant the promoter was to give me the contract but they officially called the fight off last week.
“They probably got word that it wouldn’t have been an easy fight.
“But I’m still hoping I’ll get a shot at the world title sometime soon.
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It’s fighting talk from the boxer who came to the sport late in life having previously trained to become a professional soccer player when he won a scholarship in America.
However, Oisin suffered a knee injury that ended his career. Despite this set back he stayed in America for a few more years during which time he worked as a physical education teacher and studied political journalism.
After his return to Ireland Oisin got a job as a boxing development officer with Dublin City Council and the Irish Amateur Boxing Association.
In this role Oisin tries to instill an interest in boxing among children in disadvantaged areas.
“I got into soccer in my early 20s so I was late with that too and then I started boxing when I was 30,
? he explained.
“I got into boxing out of necessity really because I’d fallen on hard times and needed money.
“I like to say I’m a late starter but a strong finisher.
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The lightweight fighter is a former Irish champion and has already been in the ring with four previous world championship title-holders, including Amir Khan.
Oisin says the key to his fitness and physique is his regimental and religious training seven days a week.
And with a coach like former Olympic gold medallist Michael Carruth he’s adamant that he’ll eventually take the world title.