According to reports the Cork light middleweight will trade leather with non other than reigning WBO light middleweight world champion Jaime Munguia [34(27)-0] next.
Respected ESPN reporter Fernando Barbosa claims the pair will square off as early as January 11 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, on January 11, with the fight being broadcast live on DAZN.
It’s a massive fight for the popular Celtic Warrior fighter, but unfortunately it appears it’s not a clash that will provide the 35-year-old with a chance to fulfill his world title dream.
The reports also suggest Munguia’s light middleweight title won’t be on the line.
It seems the Mexican has finally admitted he has outgrown 154lbs and will vacate as he moves up to middleweight. Apparently O’Sullivan, who has looked extremely destructive since moving the other way, will return to the weight in a bid to try and claim a big scalp.
The middleweight line of thinking is in keeping with what the Golden Boy prospect’s team put out pre and post the Mexican’s latest world title defence. After making a successful fifth defence of his strap with victory over Patrick Allotey in September the champion hinted at a move north on the scales.
“I can’t tell you right now who my next opponent will be. I will likely move up to 160, have two fights and see if we can fight for a world title,” he said after the fight.
Zanfer Promotions CEO Fernando Beltran suggested the same,
“He’s a very active fighter and was good tonight. He would like to return in his fight at 160.”
It’s possibly a double blow for the Pascal Collins trained fighter. ‘Spike’ would have fancied his chances of breaking down a weight drained, Munguia and if he managed to do so would have won a world title.
However, now he will face a fresher, bigger Munguia with a big name scalp rather than silverware at stake.
Regardless, the Cork man will be both confident and motivated. He has been in camp for sometime now and his team have hinted at a ‘massive’ fight on the horizon. There is no doubt victory would bolster the big punching Murphy’s Boxing stars chances of further mega match ups – and there is no doubt that the jury is still out on the young ‘monster’.
The question marks with regard to a fighter, who has won six world title fights by the age of 22, mainly arise because of Dennis Hogan.
The Kildare man fought Munguia in Mexico in the Spring and most argue he was denied a deserved historic victory.
The widely held opinion is ‘The Hurricane’ out pointed the local star only to be denied by poor judging.
Hogan is back in world title action in December 7, when he challenges Jermell Charlo for the WBC world middleweight title at the Barclays Center.
Interestingly enough he was talking about making a first defence against ‘Spike’ pre his Munguia April fight – and if both win over the winter an Ireland hosted middleweight world title fight may be an option.
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