O’Hare heartbroken by stoppage to Cash

Liam O’Hare…disputes second round stoppage in big fight

LIAM O’Hare is still simmering over the second round loss to former British middleweight champ Felix Cash, telling me: “I’m heartbroken, to be honest.”

Liam, part of Coleshill’s Eastside gym, protests the finish on Saturday’s huge Tyson Fury card at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In fact, the 29-year-old, from Hereford, believes he would’ve gone on to win the scheduled eight rounder. Referee Lewis van Poetsch, a former pro who clocked up 170 bouts, stepped in too soon, Liam insists.

“Poochie is a good friend and I think he was looking after me a bit too much,” the former Midlands super-middleweight champ insisted.

It was certainly wild and woolly while it lasted.

Cash, having his first fight since being beaten by Tyler Denny for the European title almost two years ago, struck very early, a right hand sending Liam down in the opening seconds.

O’Hare was upright at three for the standing count, only to be dropped again by the same punch.

Yet with his corner poised to throw in the towel, the underdog connected with a left hook that shook Cash to his bootlaces. The bell prevented O’Hare from mounting a concerted follow-up attack.

Bang on the beginning of the second, O’Hare again touched down from a right and van Poetsch signalled the end.

“I always start slow,” Liam said. “I seem to always get wobbled in the first round – it’s kind of my thing.

“We expected it to be rough early on, then him to fade and me to do the business. I think there was more of what I did in the first to come. The referee didn’t allow me to shake off the nerves. It wasn’t my head – my head was clear, it was my feet. In the second round it was a matter of miss-footing.

“I should’ve left my ice-skates at home.”

I have the utmost respect for O’Hare, an extremely likeable, larger-than-life character who possesses a true warrior’s spirit. The man simply wants to be in good 50-50 fights, he possesses a heart as big as a spit bucket.

I can’t, however, agree that an injustice took place and can see the merit of Poetsch’s actions. Liam could’ve undoubtedly continued after that final flash touchdown, but – whether head or legs – each solid right hand thrown by Cash had an effect.

That raises questions about punch resistance. With Cash rocked only a minute before the end, O’Hare’s frustration is understandable, however.

“I’m a bit gutted about the way it all went down,” he said. “I thought I was going to win that because he was only going to slow down. I only got the chance to show a little bit of what I can do. It wasn’t the power of his shots, it was more the nerves and shaky legs. I honestly think I’m a better fighter.”

Both O’Hare’s last two fights have ended in early defeat. Before Cash, he rolled the dice in a last-man-standing competition at super-middle – a stone above his championship weight – and was stopped in one by Taz Nadeem.

In all, he’s lost three of 16.

The result may not have gone his way, but Liam thoroughly enjoyed the arena show experience.

“I thought it was amazing,” he said, “I really enjoyed it. “Hopefully, it’s not a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I’ll get back training, get down to super-middle, get a win and then wait for the phone to ring. I hope I still get put in the mix.

“That’s my plan – get a win and I’d love to get a win on a show in Hereford.”

O’Hare, who’s never been in a bad fight, has certainly earned that.