O’Sullivan’s boxing comeback ends in Castlebar disappointment

SECOND BEST: Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan, right, in action against Sofiane Khati during their middle weight bout at TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach, Sportsfile

Cork’s Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan’s return to the ring ended in disappointment on Sunday night as he went down to French middleweight Sofiane Khati 77-76 on a scorecard decision.

In his first appearance since defeat to Erislandy Lara for the WBA Regular Middleweight title at the Barclays Centre in New York in May 2022, O’Sullivan played his part in a rip-roaring scrap at the TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar, Mayo.

O’Sullivan was part of a terrific bill that included a potential farewell for Ray Moylette and the return of former world heavyweight title challenger Dillian Whyte. 

His bout alone was cause for considerable excitement on the St Patrick’s Day card, for better and for worse.

Post-fight press conferences have an extraordinary ability to capture the mood on nights like this. 

A battle-scarred O’Sullivan was utterly magnanimous after leaving the ring. He paid credit to his foe, posed for a picture with a nearby fan and accepted a consolatory hug from a friend at the nearby bar.

“I thought he won the fight,” O’Sullivan explained. “The right man got the decision. Fair play to him, he prepared well. He looked in good shape, sharper than me tonight. No excuses. Hats off to him. He came to Ireland and beat me. He is the first non-World Champion to beat me. All the other five were (champions). Congratulations to him.” 

Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan after his defeat. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach, Sportsfile

The 39-year-old marched out in classic front-foot fashion and found joy with the jab in the second round. Audible shocks rattled around the packed arena in the third as a rasping right job stung the home fighter. 

O’Sullivan responded with some decent body work in the fourth as his corner urged him to keep pushing. 

But he was in deep trouble by the sixth with the referee lurking. A strong close to that stanza brought the crowd to their feet.

That volume persisted through the final two rounds and both boxers raised their hand after the closing bell. A tense wait preceded the verdict When it came there was a muted response, a first-ever professional defeat on Irish soil for the now 31-6 O’Sullivan.

He knows how his career prospects will be judged after this. Can it go on?

“I think it is a fair question. Am I the oldest fighter in the country? I felt good though. I felt sharp in sparring. The sparing I did I felt quite fit. I only had four weeks of sparring. 

"I don’t want to make excuses at all. But I think I can improve on that and maybe do better than I did tonight.” 

Elsewhere, Dubliner Daniel O’Sullivan secured a eye-catching stoppage when he floored Martin Balog in the first round. 

Irish light middleweight champion Craig O’Brien then beat France’s Remi Scholer 60-54 and is now targeting a spot on the Katie Taylor undercard later this year.

BUI Celtic Heavyweight Champion Thomas Carty blew Pavel Sour away in the second round. 

The southpaw dropped his outmatched opponent twice with booming body shots. His record is now 8-0 (7 KOs).