This Saturday Islington teenage boxer Brett O’Callaghan makes his second professional outing, against the experienced Nottingham battler Matt Scriven, at the Olivia Goodwin Main Events promoted ‘Search & Destroy’ event at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on the 4th June 2011.
O’Callaghan endured a real baptism of fire on his 4th December debut, which fell just one day after his nineteenth birthday. Not only was his opponent switched at the last minute from Gary Cooper, a relatively inexperienced fighter, to the one hundred and one fight veteran Billy Smith, but he also badly damaged his hand early on in the fight.
The youngster showed maturity beyond his tender years by controlling his much older opponent with fast hands and solid jabs. As the fight moved into to the second half Smith tried to bully the younger O’Callaghan back onto the ropes without success as the savvy youth used smart footwork and his solid jabs to keep Smith at bay and earn a tidy 39-37 points victory.
Early in May, after months of physiotherapy to a damaged knuckle ligament at the London Hand Clinic, O’Callaghan returned to full training under the tutorledge of Alec Wilkey, at the TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, to prepare for his upcoming showdown with Scriven.
Following a training session earlier O’Callaghan spoke briefly on the injury and his upcoming fight, “My first fight was against Billy Smith in December, I won it but tore a ligament in my knuckle. I’ve been having physio since then and it’s all good now. My hands better now so I can’t wait for June 4th.
I’ve not seen Matt Scriven fight before but there’s a few guys here at the gym that have fought him, so I’ve been getting some good advice that should help me on the night.
Alec (coach Alec Wilkey) and myself been working on some things. Training’s been going really well, I feel strong. Stronger and sharper than I did before my first fight.
Sparring’s been really good, been sparring Erick Ochieng, Nathan Weise and Danny Connor. Yeah, sparring’s been really good.
I’m really looking forward to Saturday, it’s going to be a great show. It’s been six months since I fought so I’m going to enjoy every minute of the fight. Hopefully at the end I’ll have my second win.”
Brett O’Callaghan versus Matt Scriven will be part of the fifteen bout undercard supporting the Ryan Barrett – Geoffrey Munika International Masters lightweight Title fight at the Olivia Goodwin Main Events promoted ‘Search & Destroy’ event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 4th June 2011.
Tickets, priced £35 (Standard seated) and £50 (Ringside) for the ‘Search and Destroy’ event are available on-line now at www.tkoboxoffice.com, in person at The TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA or from any boxer appearing on the show. For further information call: 07960 850645
