It’s light-middle next for victorious O’Hare

Liam O’Hare…repeat win over Jordan Grannum. Pic: Aidan Hewitt

LIAM O’Hare’s title future lies at light-middle, his trainer pledged following the Hereford boxer’s wide win over Jordan Grannum.

That makes the likeable 29-year-old something of an incredible shrinking man in the pro ranks. He’s boxed as high as light-heavy, held the Midlands title at super-middle (12st), moved down to middle and is now eyeing the 11st division.

Weightwatchers should consider approaching Liam and those who train him at Birmingham’s Eastside gym for their slimming secrets.

Against Grannum at Cannock’s Excelsior Club last night (Thursday), O’Hare weighed 11st 8lbs and showed the same trademark engine and tenacity in taking a four round, 40-37 decision.

It was a case of going over old ground. O’Hare had outpointed his Islington opponent over the same distance in February but was wobbled in the second round. This time he was more disciplined and there were no such scares.

Grannum (11st 8lbs) is, in my book, the most accomplished journeyman in the business: he knows what he’s being paid for and does it very well. I knew – and so did O’Hare – that the 32-year-old would up the anti in the final round and on my card, he took the session. Jordan jabbed with purpose and Liam staggered slightly after copping a left hook.

Had Grannum shown that intensity earlier, things would’ve been a lot more difficult for O’Hare. Grannum, however, knows upsetting the applecart will make promoters hesitant to book his services.

That’s not a slight on O’Hare’s performance, that doesn’t mean Grannum allowed him to win: Liam is a fine, gutsy fighter who’s only tasted defeat once in a 14 bout career.

I’m merely pointing out the Londoner entered the ring without the level of ambition needed to beat a championship class boxer such as O’Hare.

“I know how pro boxing is,” Liam said afterwards. “I know he is a weathered veteran and when he turns it on, he’s not to be messed with at all.”

With former world welter champ John H Stracey watching from the tables below, O’Hare found his range with leads, then fired shots up and down. He rolled nicely under a hook in the second, then cracked a classy right against Grannum’s ribs.

With each round he gave a little more and found the target with an eye-catching left hook to head and body in the third.

It would be over dramatising matters to say Liam rode a fourth round storm down the stretch, but Grannum certainly woke up in that session and pushed him back.

O’Hare’s manager PJ Rowson, a respected elder statesman of the sport, knows how to drum-up interest in future fights – and he has no doubt, with a day before weigh-in, light-middle will bring out the best in his boxer.

“He’s showed what he can do,” PJ told me. “He’s ready to do something more. He’s put his first loss behind him and that loss was to a 6ft 2ins southpaw (Ollie Cooper) at super-middle. I’m quite happy to let him off the leash, he wants to be let off the leash.”

If my maths are correct, that was Grannum’s 188th contest and the 22nd of 2025 – remarkable  statistics.

“I was hoping to fit in 30 this year,” he said. “Whether I do it, I’m not sure, but that’s what I’m aiming for.

“I feel like I’ve just started, I’m fresh,” he said. “I never loved it (boxing) more than I love it now.”