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‘Spike’ O’Sullivan aims for Quillin WBO chance

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
Irishman wants world title tilt next year

Undefeated middleweight Gary O’Sullivan takes on Farai Musiyiwa this Saturday night in Cork as the ‘Celtic Rebel’ looks to build on his impressive victory over Matthew Hall on the Haye v Chisora undercard in July.

The 28 year-old picked up the WBO International middleweight belt after grinding out a tough decision over Hall at West Ham United’s Upton Park, and has now set his sights on dethroning the full title holder Peter Quillin in 2013.

“My performance against Matthew Hall was good, given the time that I had to prepare,” O’Sullivan told World Boxing News.

“I took the fight at two and a half weeks' notice and I actually spent most of that time cutting weight rather than training properly. If I'm given more time to be ready for a fight then I have a lot more in me than I was able to show that day.

“I definitely have big plans for next year, but that's not to take anything away from Farai Musiyiwa. He's a tough opponent and I need to take him seriously. He's knocked out 11 of his opponents - including a few previously unbeaten lads - and I'll need my wits about me on Saturday night. I've trained hard so I'll be ready to put on a show.

“I want fights with opponents that have belts or who the public are interested in. It's Peter Quillin that I really have my sights set on so every fight has to bring me closer to getting into a ring with him. I want his WBO world middleweight belt.”

O’Sullivan has nine stoppages from his fifteen wins since turning pro in 2008 and intends to make the next twelve months count as he attempts to bring a major title to Irish shores after compatriots Andy Lee and Matthew Macklin fell short recently.

“A year from now I'd like to have beaten Peter Quillin to take the WBO world title and to have successfully defended the title in my hometown of Cork, in front of my most loyal supporters. That's what I focus on when I train.”

On whether he would like to face the highly-ranked Darren Barker, who overcame Kerry Hope on Saturday, O’Sullivan added: “I suppose that I'd fight Barker if it got me closer to at chance to fight for a title, yes.

“I just want to have my next fight be for a world title. I'm 28 now and I feel stronger than I've ever felt. I have high hopes for 2013,” stated O'Sullivan.

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