Oisin Fagan

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Oisin Fagan
Statistics
Real name Oisin Sean Fagan
Nickname(s) Gael Force
Rated at Light Welterweight
Nationality Flag of Ireland Irish
Birth date December 24, 1973(1973-12-24)
Birth place Dublin, Ireland
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 26
Wins 21
Wins by KO 13
Losses 5
Draws 0
No contests 0

Oisin Fagan, (b. 24 December 1973, Dublin, Ireland) nicknamed "Gael Force", is an Irish professional boxer based in Oklahoma City, U.S., who fights in the light welterweight and lightweight divisions.[1]

Contents

[edit] Background

Although a native Dubliner from Tallaght, Fagan, a grade school teacher by profession, is based in the US and fights out of Oklahoma.

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 travelled to the US on a football (soccer) scholarship to undertake Bachelors Degree's in 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 completion of his degrees course Fagan then turned his attention towards boxing.[2]

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Debut fights

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.[1]

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 medicore start to his career and a defeat to Derrick Moon in October 2004, Fagan had 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 behind his boxing and decided to give boxing one final chance.[3]

[edit] 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 and the atomosphere was charged. 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 shuck 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".[3]

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 opponent. 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.[3][1]

[edit] Irish light welterweight title

After winning the Oklahoma State title, Fagan went on a run seven straight wins before we 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"

An angry Fagan won the Irish title in front of his friends and family with a knockout victory in round seven against Thomas at the National Stadium, Dublin.[4][5][3][1]

[edit] Spadafora fight

Fagan returned to the US after winning the Irish title and defeated Brian Paul in Tulsa with a second round KO.[1]

He then earned a shot at highly touted and unbeeaten former IBF lightweight title holder Paul Spadafora.

In March 2007, Fagan sufferd a loss to Paul Spadafora in a split decision over ten rounds.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Boxrec. "Oisin Fagan". Boxrec Fighter Page. Retrieved on 13 October 2006.
  2. ^ a b "Oisin Fagan: An autobiography". Irish boxing.com. Retrieved on 13 January 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d "My road to the title". Irish boxing.com. Retrieved on 13 January 2008.
  4. ^ "Tapia helping Martinez get ready for Dunne". Eastside Boxing. Retrieved on 13 January 2008.
  5. ^ Tomás Rohan. "Fagan could meet Thomas in June". RTE. Retrieved on 13 January 2008.