This Gary Spike O Sullivan reaction with his team straight after stopping Antoine Douglas speaks volumes about the sport of boxing.

Middleweight contender O Sullivan was forced to re-gather in recent years following painful defeats to both Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank Jr.

The only two defeats of his career but losses nevertheless that forced him to regroup and re-access his career in the cold light of day.

Improvements in his diet, fixing up a persistent long-term ear injury, the adoption of yoga to his training regime and an unshakeable belief in himself and those that know him best – have made 2017 a year to remember for the popular Irishman.

A story of determination if ever there was one, in truth.

The look on Spike’s face with his trainer Paschal Collins and other team members straight after he won last night live on HBO tells you everything you need to know about the sacrifices that these brave warriors make for the entertainment of the masses:

Yeeeesssss!
What a performance from @spike_osullivan! #SaundersLemieux pic.twitter.com/ah9d86mLEU

— eir Sport (@eirSport) December 17, 2017

Emotion pouring out in a joyous moment for a fighter who has done things the hard way. Throughout his career.

His world title dream is still alive and 2018 could be the year he gets one last roll at the dice at it.

Whatever the outcome might be in this regard, nothing can be taken away from him for his heroic 2017 in a lesson to not just aspiring boxers, but to people alike – in that the old saying still and always rings true:

“If first you don’t succeed try-try again.”