We caught up with lightweight contender Stephen Ormond recently, who filled us in on his plans for 2016, fighting in America, which world champion he is gunning for and what it’s like to train at the Celtic Warrior Gym in Dublin, Ireland.
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Stephen Ormond finished off 2015 in style and has his sights set on a world title shot in 2016. Ormond told us he is doing everything possible so he can to realise this dream:
“Preparation is going great 2016 is the year I’m planning on finally becoming a World champion so I am doing everything possible in preparation.”
Stephen is back in action on the MGM card Clash Of The Clans on February 6th, where he will face Ivan Levickis of Latvia. Stephen thinks MGM shows are great for Irish boxing, his career and he is very grateful:
“MGM are doing a great thing’s for Irish boxing putting on shows and keeping fighters busy like myself and I’m grateful for them putting me on their shows it s great for Irish boxing.”
‘The Rock’ (as he’s also known) trains out of the Celtic Warrior Gym in Dublin and calls it his home away from home. The gym is a lively place and if you have seen the pictures on social media posted by the fighters it looks like they have a lot of fun, and are all really good friends:
“Celtic Warriors is my home away from home, it is a part of me now & always will be. There is some different, crazy personalities in that gym, but I love it because we’re all a bit mad. Paschal is our shrink!”
Following the Irish February 6th date, Ormond will then be back in action a month later when he heads to Boston where he will fight for the IBF Intercontinental title at the ‘House Of Blues’, which is next to the iconic Fenway Park home of the Red Sox.
Stephen’s US fight will be on March 19th, two days after St Patricks day and in a city with such a big Irish population, Stephen is expecting a great atmosphere. Stephen says that with a win there, he will be chasing down the IBF title which is currently held by Rances Barthelemy:
“I love Boston it’s a great fighting town, they love their boxing there so I fit right in and I can’t wait for this year to have big fights there, as they bring a great atmosphere. I’m fighting for the IBF Intercontinental Title and against somebody in the top 10, so when I win I will be chasing the champion.”
Stephen is promoted by Murphys Boxing who also promote Danny O’Connor and Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan, Stephen thinks the Murphys team will help him reach his goal of ultimately becoming world champion:
“We will see this year how Murphys Boxing has helped my career when I win a world title. They are really out for my benefit which I never had, Ken is good at what he does and I believe he can get me where I want to be this year.”
Terry Flanagan and Derry Matthews will face off in an all British world title fight this February and Stephen has been in with both guys, disqualified against Flanagan and beating Matthews on points. There is nobody better to judge this fight than Stephen Ormond, and his prediction is:
“I think Flanagan is just too much for Matthews.”
The lightweight division is one of the most exciting divisions in boxing right now especially in the British Isles, but Stephen sees himself as head and shoulders above the rest, and is confident if he gets his chance at Flanagan again that he will beat him:
“Boxing is doing great in the UK & Ireland at lightweight limit but I believe I’m the best out of all of them and if I ever got Flanagan again, I would beat him, but at moment he is the champ and congrats to him and congrats to (Anthony) Crolla. Great achievements, but I am coming.”
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