Ollie O’Neill joined us on Scoreline recently to discuss the lay of the ring for eager athletes longing for a return to ring.
Before we delved into issues that face local boxing, the recent Carl Frampton retirement obviously was a hot topic. Frampton stepped away from the ring after his defeat to Jamal Herring last weekend, but the father of Olympian Darren O’Neill was quick to point out his amazing contribution to Irish boxing over the years.
“In fairness to Carl Frampton he gave great service to Irish boxing. He won world title at bantam and featherweight. As well as that you take on what he has been through with his former trainer, Barry McGuingan.”
“It probably was not the best night for him but he gave fabulous service to Irish boxing. He can hold his head up high. A very good boxer over the years, he has after having some career in fairness.”
Frampton leaves the game with 28 wins from 31 fights, with the Kiko Martinez fight being a particular highlight for Irish fans as he was the man that dropped Bernard Dunne in The Point.
Carl Frampton after the fight :
Not a dry eye in the house😢
Carl Frampton announced his retirement in the ring after being stopped by Jamel Herring in their WBO super-featherweight contest
Report 👉 https://t.co/7Os8BLCHOj pic.twitter.com/hanvStOBXR
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) April 4, 2021
In regards to local boxing O’Neill is extremely keen to get his boxers back in the ring.
“It’s very very hard. If we don’t get back in action, I don’t know what we are going to do. If we get rid of the virus we may have some chance. Unfortunately nothing has been passed down to us, we just go by government restrictions. We are hoping in three weeks time we can get outside again but according to John Treacy (From IABA) there will be no contact sport until everyone gets the vaccine.”
Listen back to the full interview below :
