Oisin Fagan
Name: Oisin Fagan
Alias: Gael Force
Birth Name: Oisin Sean Fagan
Hometown: Dublin, Ireland
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 168cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Background
Although a native Dubliner from Tallaght, Oisin Fagan, a grade school teacher by profession, is based in the United States and fights out of Oklahoma (as of 2008).
At the age of 12, Fagan moved to Portmarnock and began to play for a number of football clubs, such as Glebe North, St. Malachy's and Portmarnock F.C. Fagan then traveled to the US on a football (soccer) scholarship to undertake Bachelors Degrees in both Physical Education and Political Journalism at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.[2]
During his time at university Fagan was twice awarded the All-American Scholar Athlete award, as well as chosen to represent the regional All-Star team. Following the awarding of his education degrees, Fagan then turned his attention towards boxing.[2]
Early Career
Fagan had only three fights in his amateur career before turning professional in February 2003--winning his first fight at the AMC Flea Market in Oklahoma City, when he knocked out fellow debutant Sheldon Mosley.
After Fagan's first nine pro fights, he had a patchy record of six wins and three losses--including a points defeat to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Following this mediocre career start and a defeat to Derrick Moon in October 2004, Fagan considered quitting boxing but was encouraged to continue by former world champion Wayne McCullough. Fagan then went to train with McCullough and found a new drive. He decided to give boxing one final chance.
Oklahoma State Lightweight Title
Fagan then fought for his first title belt in December 2004 against Lee Cargle for the vacant Oklahoma State lightweight title. The venue was sold out. Cargle landed the first meaningful blows of the fight when he caught Fagan with a surprise right hand, which landed flush on his jaw. Fagan thought the fight was over but shucked it off and returned with a number of flurries to win the opening round.
Fagan continued to throw jabs to the body and the head and controlled much of the middle of the fight. In the third after Fagan almost floored Cargle, Cargle smiled at Fagan and said "man, I'm not going anywhere - you ain't knocking me out!" to which Fagan laughed and replied "maybe not, but I'm gonna try my best".
Cargle began to showboat in the fourth and pushed Fagan hard in the fifth but Fagan was again dominant in the sixth and final round when he caught Cargle with combination and landed a straight right which cut with opponant. Despite the tough fight Fagan took the title belt by unanimous decision with a margin of 60-54 on all score cards.[1] The venue erupted on hearing the decision with table-top celebrations and Irish tricolours waving as Fagan was swamped by his cheering school pupils.
Irish Light Welterweight Title
After winning the Oklahoma State title, Fagan had seven straight wins before he was handed a shot at the vacant Irish light welterweight title in June 2006. The Irish title had been vacated by unbeaten fellow Dubliner Robbie Murray to allow Fagan and Peter McDonagh to fight for the title. However, McDonagh pulled out of the fight and Fagan faced English-born Jeff Thomas for the title. Fagan was furious over McDonagh's withdrawal stating: "I'm angry and very disappointed but honestly I just knew something like this would happen. He got scared that's all there is to it! He mouthed off at the press conference declaring that he was going to knock me out. Then I heard he was frantically looking for tapes of some of my fights. He watched one of my fights live in Dublin last year, when I knocked out an American lad in 83 seconds of the first round and then the only other tape he could have watched was when I gave Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. the best fight of his career in Las Vegas. Then, all of a sudden, it looks like he got cold feet. I don't think he's injured at all"
Fagan won the Irish title with a knockout victory in round seven against Thomas at the National Stadium, Dublin.