Liam: I’m moving to super-welter class

Liam O’Hare…back out in Coventry next month

LIAM O’Hare has emerged from his first defeat a wiser man with a heightened sense of what matters in life.

Lessons have been learned two months after Ollie Cooper took his Midlands super-middle title in six exciting rounds.

The most important of those is the fact Cooper isn’t big enough for the 12st division. In fact, he plans to shift a stone and compete at super-welter (seasoned fans will know it as light-middle).

To that end, he has sought the help of Ricky Hatton’s former nutritionist. Managing the Manchester legend’s weight needed expert input: Ricky was known to pile on pounds between fights.

“He’s very knowledgeable,” said Hereford’s O’Hare, who fights out of Eastside gym in Birmingham. “It used to be all about cutting calories, now it’s about gaining nutrients.”

The move down will be made in steps. First, the 28-year-old will make middleweight for his six round comeback at Sports Connexion Leisure Centre, Coventry, on February 22.

Away from the ring, the bitterness of that title loss has been softened by news his partner will give birth to a new addition to the family in July.

That has put things into perspective.

“I was expecting to be heartbroken for some time,” he said. “But, weirdly, when the dust had settled, it heightened what I stood for and made me look at the bigger picture. I have a beautiful partner and a baby on the way.”

Liam can also take comfort from the face he and Cannock’s Cooper also staged a cracking battle at the Excelsior Sporting Club.

“I watched it back and there’s a lot to be happy with,” O’Hare said. “I was at a weight I shouldn’t have been at, it was going as planned – the gameplan was coming through, then I got caught in the sixth.

“I was straight back in the gym. Sometimes it takes a loss for the phone to start ringing.”

Liam added: “I don’t like to set limits – if an opportunity comes, I’ll take it. I’d like to fight for the Midlands middle or super-welter titles and, hopefully, move on from there.”