O’Donnell: Britain’s most avoided

Wellington · Post by **Wellington** » 27 Feb 2007, 09:18

O’Donnell: Britain’s most avoided

Hennessy Sports promoted John O’Donnell faces Stuart Elwell for the vacant English welterweight title at the Nottingham Arena on March 23rd, glad that someone has at last agreed to box him.

A series of experienced fighters have turned down the chance to face O’Donnell, who is becoming arguably the most avoided boxer in Britain.

O’Donnell, who has only just turned 21, has a growing army of admirers. He had a stellar junior amateur career, claiming Olympic gold and two ABA titles, and has racked up 14 wins as a professional with his slick southpaw style and machine gun combinations.

O’Donnell can now win his first pro title if he defeats fellow unbeaten puncher Elwell on the Hennessy Sports ‘Cobra’s Hood’ event being headlined by British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Carl Froch.

Promoter Mick Hennessy cannot be accused of over-protecting O’Donnell. He has attempted to match the Shepherds Bush boxer with more experienced fighters, only to be presented with a series of excuses.

Chingford’s Michael Lomax pulled out of a Southern Area title fight against O’Donnell and Crawley’s Ross Minter vacated his English title after O’Donnell was made his mandatory challenger.

Another boxer who did not fancy the risk of facing the slippery southpaw was Yorkshireman James Hare, who gave up the chance to meet O’Donnell for the vacant crown after being nominated as co-challenger by the Boxing Board of Control.

Young Muttley was then mandated as co-challenger, but his camp pulled out of the purse bid for the English Championship.

Manchester’s Matthew Hatton is another who has conveniently declined the invitation to face the less experienced O’Donnell. His team have regularly stated that their man is to contest an eliminator for a British Title, but turned down the potential opportunity to do so against O’Donnell.

However, Elwell, 29, (9-0) has stepped forward and O’Donnell has praised the Midlands boxer for showing more courage than other higher-ranked, higher-profile boxers.

“It has been frustrating with people not wanting to fight me and pulling out,” O’Donnell said. “I was meant to be boxing Ross Minter and that would have been a good one which I was beginning to look forward to, but it never happened. I think Minter knew I was going to expose him. And then there were others.

“I thought I was never going to get the chance to box anyone for a title but now it’s on and I’m looking forward to it. Credit to Elwell for taking the fight, because others haven’t.

“Perhaps the others just didn’t want to risk putting their reputation on the line. Some people try to down play me, but I think the fighters know my ability.

“I would box anyone in the British welterweight division right now and would beat any one of them. I want to win this English title and then fight for the British title later this year – I’m definitely ready for it.

“Kevin Anderson is the British champion right now and I would fight him tomorrow. Then there’s Eamonn Magee and Takaloo. I think I’m capable of beating the pair of them already in style.

“This title will be a good stepping stone for me. We are both unbeaten southpaws and it will be a good fight for me to win and then hopefully get a final eliminator for the British.”

Promoter Mick Hennessy sees an exciting future ahead for O’Donnell, who is tipped by experts to be named Young Boxer of Year in 2007.

“No one fancies it because they know what a brilliant talent John is. He is fast becoming the most avoided fighter in Britain,” said Hennessy. “But this first title will be a step towards much bigger things. With everybody avoiding him they way they are, I think after this fight he should be in pole position to fight for the British Title.”

Hennessy Sports Proudly Present
Cobra’s Hood
Friday 23rd March 2007
Nottingham Arena

Tickets priced £25, £40, £60 and £80 available on 0870 121 0123.

12x3 International Super Middleweight Contest
Carl Froch vs. Sergey Tatevosyan
(Nottingham) (Russia)

10x3 English Welterweight Championship
John O’Donnell vs. Stuart Elwell
(Shepherds Bush) (Darlaston)

10x3 Lightweight
John Murray vs. TBA
(Manchester) ()

10x3 Midland Area Welterweight Championship
Tyan Booth vs. Darren Gethin
(Sheffiled) (Walsall)

6x3 Super Middleweight
Amer Khan vs. TBA
(Sheffield) ()

6x3 Light Heavyweight
Rod Anderton vs. TBA
(Nottingham) ()

4x3 Light Middleweight
Adnan Amar vs. TBA
(Nottingham) ()

4x3 Light Heavyweight
Adie Whitmore vs. TBA
(Derby) ()

WolvesLad · Post by **WolvesLad** » 27 Feb 2007, 16:16

Sorry mate but from what ive heard its O'Donnell been doing the avoiding. Stu's been waiting for this fight for ages and has had to be postphoned more than once because of his 'mental state' or something. I know hes not acused Stu of avoiding him so fair play as i know for a fact Stus been up for this fight for ages as hes a mate of mine !

Daveyswan · Post by **Daveyswan** » 27 Feb 2007, 18:42

I dont usually get invlolved in this type of debate - but I'm told from a very good source Odonnel has amazing skill but perhaps lacks a bit of power/strength

Top Dog · Post by **Top Dog** » 28 Feb 2007, 07:11

It's ok saying he wants to fight this guy and that guy (Minter, Takaloo, Magee etc) but have a look at his record. He hasnt beaten anyone of any note, so why should these guys even bother with him? His matchmakers cant be that good if they keep on giving him journeymen hes beaten previously. Duncan Cottier twice, Ernie Smith twice, Ben Hudson twice, all of his opponents have had a lot more losses than wins, lets just say. Heard he has good skills but is a bit of a powderpuff hitter. Lets see him in with a good guy before we decide he's something special

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 28 Feb 2007, 07:43

He's definitely not a light hitter. He's not a banger either, but the problem with the type of guys he's been boxing is they come to survive and won't take chances, so don't tend to get hurt or nailed properly.

Now we're going to start finding out if he's for real or not and Elwell's a decent starting point. From what I've seen of O'Donnell, he's really skilled with good balance and calm. No we should find out if he's got the metal to go with the talent.

Podmore_Birmingham · Post by **Podmore_Birmingham** » 28 Feb 2007, 07:56

We’ll find out about O’Donnell’s stamina in this fight - I’m positive of that. Elwell, a former Royal Marine, is insanely fit and set an incredible pace when he went the full ten-round distance in his Midland Area title fight last year.

Elwell is also an awkward southpaw with decent power and can effortlessly switch attack from head to body. However, i have been impressed with O'Donnell and he does look a solid prospect.

Both have international experience, but Stu boxed as a senior for England and is physically mature. O’Donnell is only a youngster and probably hasn’t got the same amount of ‘man strength’ yet.

It’s too close to call but I think Elwell’s stamina will be the difference.

Tom Podmore.

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 28 Feb 2007, 09:40

Definitely an intriguing match-up. O'Donnell's stamina is fine against the standard of opposition he's been facing. You'd think he'd just been out for brisk walk in the park after some of his bouts, but Elwell is there to win and punch back more than John might be used.

That said,doing ten rounds with David Kirk should be a totally different experience for Elwell too when facing O'Donnell.

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 28 Feb 2007, 11:09

Definitely an intriguing match-up. O'Donnell's stamina is fine against the standard of opposition he's been facing. You'd think he'd just been out for brisk walk in the park after some of his bouts, but Elwell is there to win and punch back more than John might be used to.

That said,doing ten rounds with David Kirk should be a totally different experience for Elwell too when facing O'Donnell.