Liam needs to think hard about career

Liam O’Hare…must consider his options after another setback

LIAM O’Hare and those around him will be thinking long and hard about the future after the former champ’s loss to Alex Farrell.

It’s always hard to publicly urge retirement, especially when the boxer is as thoroughly nice as O’Hare, a larger-than-life individual whose smile and infectious laugh are truly therapeutic.

But, following the 45 second defeat at Rainton Meadows Arena, Tyne and Wear, I’d be happy – even relieved - to see the 29-year-old call it a career – and a very good career, at that. That’s hard to write because I know how hard it is for a boxer to read.

I’m sure the British Boxing Board of Control will be monitoring the situation, in any case.

Liam has a young family and fledgling baking business, he has a lot to look forward to.  

Part of Birmingham’s Eastside gym, Hereford’s O’Hare has reigned as Midlands super-middle champ and lost only four of 17.

He is a good pro with a decent dig and so much heart, yet punch resistance has diminished: once that’s gone, you don’t get it back.

Before Farrell – a good, big hitting prospect who is now 14-0, Liam was stopped in two by Felix Cash. Before that, Taz Nadeem beat him in a single round, admittedly a stone above the Hereford boxer’s best weight. They are all very good men who hit hard and Paul “Soggy” Counihan, a leading light at Eastside, has a point when he says: “The last three opponent, 50 per cent of the people they face would get knocked out.”

Eastside train Liam, they don’t manage him.

Manager PJ Rowson told me: “I’ve had the hard conversation with Liam. He is a wonderful man with a wonderful family. I know boxing can be the ‘be all and end all’ for many with in it, but it’s not the ‘be all and end all’ of life.

“Liam has done very well in the sport, he has so many other wonderful talents.”

For me, alarm bells rang when quality journeyman Jordan Grannum stagged O’Hare with a left lead before losing on points.

He wasn’t down against Farrell, but Eastside’s Jon Pegg said: “I was more than happy the ref showed compassion.”

Counihan said: “Liam has had issues outside, I think that was playing on his mind. He wanted the money, he wanted to box. We were telling him not to.

“His last three opponents were really good kids, holding a shot against them would be difficult for most men. Has his punch resistance gone? Maybe. It’s a hard game – we don’t want him to get injured.

“He has to have time out. If he wants to continue, he has to make sure he’s in there with people who don’t hit as hard as the last three. It is up to him, he has to take a hard look at himself, see how he feels.”

Pegg was more forthright. He said: “We will have a long, strong chat. Liam’s a winner and he knows it’s not working.”

Problem is, Liam loves boxing and for that reason should stay in it in another capacity. PJ Rowson said: “Liam has indicated he will still remain in boxing in some form should he make the decision to retire.”