Rugged Byles makes O’Hare work for win

O’Hare on the attack against Byles. Picture: Michael Ault

LIAM O’Hare connected with mighty right hand after mighty right hand, yet somehow Mikey Byles took the shots – and came back for more.

At Cannock’s Excelsior Sporting Club, the pair gave it their all for six pulsating – if one sided - rounds.

O’Hare, who was scheduled to fight for the vacant Midlands middleweight title on the show, won and won handily, referee Peter McCormack scoring 60-55.

But Byles’ incredible toughness made it an entertaining spectacle. On the comeback trail after nearly seven years away from the game, the 36-year-old was rocked and rattled, but always looked to hurl punches.

Billed out of Warwick, he may have been hewn from the castle rampart’s rocks. He showed an ability to wade through punishment that brought back memories of Bristol’s rugged 1980s contender Chris Sanigar, who was in his corner.

Byles is a very hard man. Just when he appeared on the brink of being swamped, he’d throw something back.

Byles sportingly applauds the decision. Picture: Jack Perry

O’Hare, from Hereford, is becoming a better pro with each bout. And Thursday’s tussle proved the perfect tune-up for his 10 rounder with Tom Brennan next month for the vacant middleweight belt.

The pair were to have met at Scott Murray’s Excelsior Club, but injury forced Brennan to pull out. The contest now takes place in Swindon on April 13.

I like 27-year-old O’Hare, who has already claimed the Midlands super-middleweight crown in an eight fight career. He has an entertaining style, is a larger-than-life character and has a colourful cover story.

Not many boxers have a ballet background and Liam performed a pirouette for fans after overcoming Byles.

Liam O’Hare is all smiles after the six rounder. Picture: Jack Perry

It must have been disheartening  to throw everything at his opponent – by the fourth I expected O’Hare to request a kitchen sink to fling at Byles – and see the man come back for more.

Liam couldn’t miss with right hands, whether long, short or hooked. And Byles took them with such regularity, I near anticipated an apology from the man if one missed.

And Byles, through sheer heart, managed to turn the fight into a slugging match down the stretch.

“He’s a weapon!” O’Hare acknowledged afterwards. “I wasn’t really happy. I did what I was told to do from the first to the fourth. After that I didn’t stick to the game plan and, at this stage, it’s all about sticking to the game plan. I should’ve thrown more uppercuts.

“But it was the perfect tune-up for next month and I didn’t get cut. I’m still learning and tonight was a lesson.”

Byles, a welt under his left eye, said: “There was one shot (that caught me), but I never thought, ‘s***, I’m going to get stopped here’.

“I was away for seven years, come back and went the distance with a Welsh champ and Midlands champ. That tells you something.

“Everyone knows I’m tough, now it’s time to work on the technical side, learn to be more of a boxer, and get some consistency in camps.”

It was glorious mayhem from the start. O’Hare (11st 10lbs, like his opponent) found his range with jabs in the first, then delivered right hands. One heavy hook seemed to momentarily stun Byles.

Mikey attempted to turn the tide in the second, but was steadied by jabs.

What a warrior…Mikey Byles from Warwick

The third produced O’Hare’s best shot of the night – a right-uppercut that made Byles sag for a second. Liam followed-up with three big rights in succession to have his opponent under pressure and seemingly unsteady.

I believed the end was nigh, yet Byles began the fourth on the front foot, landing a clumping left. Marked under both eyes, he was dragging his tormentor into the trenches.

O’Hare opened up with both hands in the fifth only to see Byles sling his own rights in the final session. When Liam responded, the Warwickshire warrior simply bared his black gumshield in a grin.

He deserved to hear the final bell.

Both can take positives from an all action bout. O’Hare, who emerged from the contest unmarked, was given the perfect test before facing Brennan.

And that’s courtesy of Byles’ ruggedness. He has now won eight and lost eight.