Pat McCormack Commonwealth champion.
They are four words to treasure after the Washington boxer received the welterweight gold medal around his tanned neck on the Gold Coast.
The 22-year-old defeated Northern Ireland’s Aidan Walsh in a gripping U69 final at the Oxenford Studios.
For the Birtley boxer it was such a sweet moment, that’s stating the obvious.
Too many times, McCormack has been the bridesmaid, instead of the bride. Not today.
Walsh tried the tactical approach, keep out of the European number one’s way and try to steal the bout. It didn’t work and all five judges gave the verdict to McCormack.
“I’ve had a few disappointments along the way,” said Pat. “It’s all come together here, it’s all God’s plan.”
To say the Wearsider has been beset by misfortune throughout his career would be an exaggeration. The gifted boxer has won plenty of times, a victory in America in the World Series of Boxing being a particular highlight.
But, on the biggest stage, Lady Luck has not always smiled on him.
Having been handed a devilishly tough draw in the 2016 Olympics, he went out at the last 16 at light welterweight at the hands of Cuba’s Yasnier Toledo.
McCormack was excellent only to suffer the narrowest of split decisions to the number two seed.
In last year, European Championships, Pat was irresistible at welterweight. He was not just one of the star boxers at 69 kilos, he was one of the stars of the tournament. Sadly, by the night of the final some of his ‘zip’ had disappeared and he lost out to the slippery German, Abass Baraou.
If circumstances beat him in Kharkiv, the Graeme Rutherford-coached fighter was blatantly ripped off at the World Championships.
He meted out a masterclass to Shakhram Giyasov, only for the judges to award the quarter-final victory to the Olympic silver medallist.
Pat was robbed of a world medal but today, Pat was no longer the bridesmaid, he got the rewards he deserved and his place on TOP of the podium.
“I’ve put myself on the map with this,” he told the British Broadcasting Corporation.
“It’s the Europeans and the Worlds next and I want to go there and win gold.
“Some of the people I’ve boxed have moved on and gone pro, there’s definitely space for me to come through and take the number one spot.”
So says Pat McCormack, Commonwealth Games champion. And it does sound good!
Words: Roy Kelly
