Irish lightweight Stephen Ormond says he’ll be the next fighter from the Emerald Isle to bring back a world title after he defeats Terry Flanagan on Saturday, February 14th at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
Dubliner Ormond faces undefeated Manchester star Flanagan with the fight also an eliminator for the WBO title currently held by American Terrance Crawford.
The 31-year-old aims to join fellow countrymen Andy Lee, the WBO World Middleweight Champion, and Belfast IBF World Super-Bantamweight Champion Carl Frampton as Ireland’s next world champion.
Ormond said:
“Irish boxing is going through a big revival at the moment and a victory against Flanagan will put me within touching distance of challenging for the WBO world title.
“There’s a big buzz over here at the moment with Andy Lee’s great win over Matt Korobov to win the WBO World Middleweight title and of course there’s Carl Frampton, I aim to be the next boxer to bring more glory back with a world title, but I have to beat Flanagan first.
“Over the years there have been so many great boxers to come out of here like Bernard Dunne, Wayne McCullough, Eamonn Loughran, Jimmy McLarnin, Barry McGuigan, and of course Steve Collins, to name just a few, all great, great, fighters, and I want to join that list.
“Our gym is packed and buzzing with talent like Spike O’Sullivan, John O’Carroll, Luke Keeler, Ian Tims, Sean Turner, Steve Collins Jr., Neil Seery, the MMA fighter Conor McGregor and honorary Irishman Frank Buglioni, we all bounce off each other and push other to be the best and become champions.
“It’s going to be a war between me and Flanagan, an absolute war. I’m the best shape I can be and I know that he’s training his arse off over in Manchester so you’ll see two prime fighters in the ring going for it and putting everything on the line.”
Ormond’s trainer Paschal Collins, brother of Irish super-middleweight legend Steve, says that his charge is in fantastic shape and ready to fight Flanagan now.
“We’ve had a fantastic camp so far and Steve’s in the best shape I’ve ever seen him in,” Said Collins.
“He’s ready for Flanagan and whatever he brings to the ring. Whilst most orthodox fighters hate southpaws and makes them nervous, Steve loves them, he believes that Flanagan is made for him,”
“This is the most important fight of his career and we know what’s on the line. I can’t see anything else other than an Ormond win.”
