O’Hare is taking the long run to ring glory

Hereford’s Liam O’Hare celebrates another victory

UNBEATEN Liam O’Hare is a fighter with quite an engine – and a near uncomfortable desire to challenge himself.

A mere 27 days after fighting on BCB’s July 30 afternoon show at Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms, dubbed Crunchtime at Lunchtime, the 26 years attempts a 130 mile ultra marathon. He aims to run from his Hereford home to London in 48 hours.

That’s roadwork…and then some.

To date, O’Hare, who, by day, works in the café of a charity for military veterans, has ticked all the boxes as a pro. Managed by PJ Rowson, trained by Tony Chadwick, he’s unbeaten in five and fans are beginning to take notice.

In which division he makes his mark is open to debate. O’Hare has fought as light as light-middle, but his future may lie at super-middle. “We’re fiddling around with it at the moment,” he explained.

Away from the ring, he’s a happy go lucky character with an infectious laugh. When I enquired about a publicity picture for this article, he pointed to a selection and asked: “Any chance of using one with my teeth in.”

When asked what he does to relax, he said: “I don’t think I do. It does my missus’ (Izzy) head in. I think it’s starting to sink in that we won’t have a weekend where we don’t do anything. She’s been really supportive through the whole thing.”

From a military family, O’Hare attended a Monmouth boarding school, spent his young adult life in Ross-on-Wye and settled in Hereford some three years ago.

As an amateur, he boxed for Lydney ABC, had around 40 contest and collected Western Counties titles. “I never really won anything outright,” he said. “I beat some top boys, but never at the right time.

Liam after a sparring session with red hot prospect Owen Cooper

“I was doing well and fell off the wagon a bit. I didn’t return to boxing for about two years. Once you’ve done it at a high level, it’s hard not to go full on. It had always been my childhood dream to go professional and, when I was an amateur, people said I had a pro style.”

The progress has been remarkably swift. O’Hare has already hit six round class and was scheduled to face Ryan Amos last month for the Nottingham boxer’s Midlands light-middleweight belt. A trapped nerve in his neck forced O’Hare out of that one.

“I think one of my main strengths is adaptability,” he said. “I feel like I’m able to do a bit of everything. If someone is coming forward, I can outbox him and I can bite on my gumshield and get stuck in. I haven’t really shown that yet, but I hope I’ll be taken into deep waters soon.

“The pros are different from what I expected, in terms of how much work there is around it – things like ticket sales.

“I’m loving the training and intensity. I want to achieve as much as possible. Tony and PJ are hopeful for my future – and PJ’s track record shows he has a good idea about things.

“I work extremely hard at it and I can’t imagine anyone out-training me.”

O’Hare admits making light-middle (11st) is a struggle.

After his 130 mile run on August 26, he and PJ may be eyeing the welterweight division.