Spike O Sullivan - Not newsworthy?????

twowheelsonly

Just in case anyone missed it..

Gary Spike O Sullivan won the WBO Middleweight title in Upton Park last night.

However, if you were depending on RTE for your news you'd be a long time waiting. They still haven't noted it on their website. This is a massive step up for Spike and will hopefully lead to better things for him. To win an international title like this is big news in the sports world and I'm baffled by our national broadcasters ability to ignore it!!!

gene_tunney

It's stupidity like this that gives boxing a bad name. Anybody who thinks Spike O'Sullivan is a legitimate world champion has serious issues. Spike, a 160lber, beat a 154lb journeyman (not even a gatekeeper) in a dodgy decision. I actually thought Hall beat him, but there wasn't much in it.

This is not big news; it scarcely merits discussion at all.

refusetolose

probably because he's not from dublin

twowheelsonly

gene_tunney wrote: »

It's stupidity like this that gives boxing a bad name. Anybody who thinks Spike O'Sullivan is a legitimate world champion has serious issues. Spike, a 160lber, beat a 154lb journeyman (not even a gatekeeper) in a dodgy decision. I actually thought Hall beat him, but there wasn't much in it.

This is not big news; it scarcely merits discussion at all.

What an arrogant condescending post.

Spike IS now a legitimate World Champion and has a WBO belt to prove it whether you like it or not. (Personally I'd consider it an 'International' Belt but that's neither here nor there..)
He can only beat what's put in front of him - in this case a boxer, (far from a journeyman BTW) who was reckoned to be on the way back following personal issues/illness.
Dodgy decision? 3 judges decided that, 2 of them going 117-111 and one of them 115-114. That's good enough for me and was close enough to what I thought as well.

Your last sentence suggests that either a) You're a troll or b) you're a self appointed 'Boxing Snob'.

endabob1

twowheelsonly wrote: »

Just in case anyone missed it..

Gary Spike O Sullivan won the WBO Middleweight title in Upton Park last night.

However, if you were depending on RTE for your news you'd be a long time waiting. They still haven't noted it on their website. This is a massive step up for Spike and will hopefully lead to better things for him. To win an international title like this is big news in the sports world and I'm baffled by our national broadcasters ability to ignore it!!!

http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2012/0716/329357-cork-fighter-claims-wbo-international-title/

Just for the record it's not a world title, it's the international title which is a fairly meaningless belt

walshb

endabob1 wrote: »

Just for the record it's not a world title, it's the international title which is a fairly meaningless belt

I was thinking this when I read the title. Thanks!

walshb

twowheelsonly wrote: »

Spike IS now a legitimate World Champion and has a WBO belt to prove it whether you like it or not. .

How?

gene_tunney

twowheelsonly wrote: »

What an arrogant condescending post.

Spike IS now a legitimate World Champion and has a WBO belt to prove it whether you like it or not. (Personally I'd consider it an 'International' Belt but that's neither here nor there..)
He can only beat what's put in front of him - in this case a boxer, (far from a journeyman BTW) who was reckoned to be on the way back following personal issues/illness.
Dodgy decision? 3 judges decided that, 2 of them going 117-111 and one of them 115-114. That's good enough for me and was close enough to what I thought as well.

Your last sentence suggests that either a) You're a troll or b) you're a self appointed 'Boxing Snob'.

lol

celtictiger32

fair play to him i say, didnt see the fight but fvck it if we get a dodgy decision we've had plenty go against us in this country over the years.

twowheelsonly

walshb wrote: »

How?

Hands up to that one.. 'International' Champion

BTW, I always respect your opinion on sporting matters, mightn't always agree with them but always respect them and you do seem to have a vast knowledge of a multitude of Sports.

Unlike.......

gene_tunney wrote: »

lol

If in doubt use smiley/lol/rollyeyes

celtictiger32 wrote: »

fair play to him i say, didnt see the fight but fvck it if we get a dodgy decision we've had plenty go against us in this country over the years.

IMO it wasn't a dodgy decision, a close one, possibly closer than the Judges called it, but not a dodgy one. Agree with the sentiment though - a few dodgy decisions in our favour wouldn't go astray!!!

walshb

twowheelsonly wrote: »

Hands up to that one.. 'International' Champion

BTW, I always respect your opinion on sporting matters, mightn't always agree with them but always respect them and you do seem to have a vast knowledge of a multitude of Sports.

Gotta agree with some of them, I hope!:)

gene_tunney

I've never been one to celebrate mediocrity myself.

Big Ears

gene_tunney wrote: »

I've never been one to celebrate mediocrity myself.

Well it's all relative to the situation. For Spike beating Matthew Hall is certainly not a mediocre win. Previous to that Spike's best wins were over Ciaran Healy and Robbie Long, so this was a huge step up for him and a massive win to get.

Matthew Hall is fringe European level, most felt he deserved the decision over Webb, although a sizeable minority had Webb the winner, although that could be said again here. I haven't watched it yet, but it seems like the Webb fight is was a close run affair where the majority had Hall edging it but it was no robbery for Spike to get the nod.

Considering Spike's advanced age (he's 28 isn't he ?), his style of fighting and the attributes he possesses I could see him gaining more wins on that level, but I can't see him being able to move up to the next level. He's value for money though and likely to provide exciting fights wherever he goes, and I really hope his success, along with that of Stephen Ormond, will encourage Frank Warren to host some cards in the Republic. I think Warren has also got Irish Cruiserweight champion Ian Tims and Karl Brabazon (who unfortunately lost in his debut on the Haye vs Chisora undercard) signed up to him or at least linked with him, so he's developing an ample stable of Irish fighters to hold a card in Ireland.

Anyway is beating Matthew Hall mediocrity ?, in overall boxing terms yes, in Irish boxing terms ?, maybe (it's fairly debatable), but for Spike and for Cork boxing it's a major win, and should act as a springboard to bring his career on.

endabob1

Big Ears wrote: »

Anyway is beating Matthew Hall mediocrity ?, in overall boxing terms yes, in Irish boxing terms ?, maybe (it's fairly debatable), but for Spike and for Cork boxing it's a major win, and should act as a springboard to bring his career on.

I think that's a fair summation

Bobby Baccala

I watched the whole fight and had it in favour of hall, i saw it much closer than the judges did too, dunno where they got 117-111. In saying that I'm delighted for Spike, lovely fight and happy to see another irish man gain a title. Even if people dont hold the WBO title in high regard.

celtictiger32

twowheelsonly wrote: »

IMO it wasn't a dodgy decision, a close one, possibly closer than the Judges called it, but not a dodgy one. Agree with the sentiment though - a few dodgy decisions in our favour wouldn't go astray!!!

like i said i didnt see the fight iwas just using the dodgy decision reference from the comments above

edboy12

Yes but wait until billy joe knocks his head off .....that 0 has got to go ..

celtictiger32

i know im making assumptions here but dont you just love the sense of self loathing irish people have. :rolleyes: