Britains equivalent of Jorge Castro.....
Posted: 05 May 2006, 20:00
Fighting for the Welsh ABA senior title after just 9 amateur fights is a remarkable achievement for any young boxer. But what makes Fishguard born Brickie, Chris O Sullivan (23), story more amazing was that less than 2 years ago he was knocked down by a car on a A road by his hometown with injuries nearly costing his life.
He suffered a broken neck and head was encased in a steel cage for 4 months and even after this period was told by the doctors that he may never walk again... However, he was determined to follow in his older brother footstep and was desperate to return and box for Wales. His brother, Wayne at the time was just getting over a heartbreak loss in the WABA finals a Middleweight when he witnessed the accident.
After progressing beyond the steel cage, he was still far from out of the woods and wore a specifically designed neck brace for a further 4 months. He was still warned that his recovery will be slow and Doctors feared that while he now may walk again, he wouldn't be able to compete in competitive sport. O Sullivan was also a semi proffesional footballer with Haverfordwest.
However, after seeing his brother triumph at the WABA 12 months ago, he was determined to taste a bit of the success aswell. It wasn't long after he was allowed to take off the neck brace that he rejoined Merlins Bridge Boxing club under the tutorlidge of Graham Brockway.
He trained like a demon, inspired by the pessimistic views of the Doctors and also by his Brothers success and made his return to the WABA qualifiers and has now progressed to the Lightweight final, which takes place on Friday in Newport.
He will start as the underdog as he faces the 90 fight veteran Jamie Evans who reprensents the Army, but what a story it would be if a small boxing club who only re-opened a few years ago achieved 2 winners in two years. With the heart and determination he has shown so far, who is to bet against the youngster who has also made a return to Haverfordwest County XI.
He suffered a broken neck and head was encased in a steel cage for 4 months and even after this period was told by the doctors that he may never walk again... However, he was determined to follow in his older brother footstep and was desperate to return and box for Wales. His brother, Wayne at the time was just getting over a heartbreak loss in the WABA finals a Middleweight when he witnessed the accident.
After progressing beyond the steel cage, he was still far from out of the woods and wore a specifically designed neck brace for a further 4 months. He was still warned that his recovery will be slow and Doctors feared that while he now may walk again, he wouldn't be able to compete in competitive sport. O Sullivan was also a semi proffesional footballer with Haverfordwest.
However, after seeing his brother triumph at the WABA 12 months ago, he was determined to taste a bit of the success aswell. It wasn't long after he was allowed to take off the neck brace that he rejoined Merlins Bridge Boxing club under the tutorlidge of Graham Brockway.
He trained like a demon, inspired by the pessimistic views of the Doctors and also by his Brothers success and made his return to the WABA qualifiers and has now progressed to the Lightweight final, which takes place on Friday in Newport.
He will start as the underdog as he faces the 90 fight veteran Jamie Evans who reprensents the Army, but what a story it would be if a small boxing club who only re-opened a few years ago achieved 2 winners in two years. With the heart and determination he has shown so far, who is to bet against the youngster who has also made a return to Haverfordwest County XI.
