LIMERICK’S GRAHAM McCormack-O’Shea will make his professional debut as part of the impressive Celtic Clash 4 card at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday night.
Light-middleweight McCormack-O’Shea (a former top amateur with Corpus Christi) is listed to fight Jozsef Richard Baba of Hungary, who is eight years his junior. The bout consists of four three-minute rounds and is part of a cracking 12-bout card that includes Eric Donovan and Juancho Gonzalez for the BUI Celtic Featherweight title. There is also a local grudge match between Dubliners Crank Whitehouse and Jay Byrne for the BUI Celtic Welterweight belt.
Speaking exclusively to the Limerick Post, McCormack-O’Shea’s manager Stephen Sharpe revealed: “We had another opponent (understood to have been Artur Giers of Poland) selected for Graham but he had to pull out due to injury.
“Baba would not have been our preferred opponent for a fighter making his debut as we have very little knowledge of him due to the fact that he has had just two fights (one win and one loss). Also the fact that his win came by way of a knockout makes him dangerous. Graham will have to be 100% focused come and make sure he doesn’t underestimate this fighter.”
“To be honest, I don’t care who I fight. I’m just mad to get out there. And, it wouldn’t bother me if I only found out his name after I win the fight,” said a confident McCormack-O’Shea, who has been preparing for this occasion with leading coach and former Irish professional champion Eddie Hyland in Dublin for the past couple of months.
“Eddie has been helping Graham to adapt his boxing to a more professional style,” Sharpe said. “Graham’ s attitude and determination has been infectious to everyone around him since signing with us and we believe Saturday night is the beginning of what will be an incredible journey for him. I’m in no doubt Graham will produce whatever is required of him to overcome Richard Baba.
“The plan is to keep Graham busy, get him in a position to challenge for domestic titles over the next 12 months. Considering the incredible response, he has already received it might not be long before professional boxing returns to Limerick.”
On his decision to join the paid ranks, southpaw McCormack-O’Shea stated: “I made the decision to turn professional now because this is what’s right for me. I believe in myself and that this is the path I’ve been put on.
“I’m overwhelmed by the support that I’ve gotten from everyone in Limerick. It’s been great, they’ve all gotten behind me in a big way and I’m grateful for it. I come from the greatest city in the world. I absolutely love boxing and this opportunity that I’ve been given. I’m going to take it one fight at a time I believe in myself and my team and I am looking forward to this journey.”
