Talk of the Toon gym O’Tooles is hitting the mark in the world of boxing – and not just because of their international super-signing.
Punch-lines exclusively revealed last month how the Newcastle outfit had sealed a deal to bring Ukraine’s world amateur cruiserweight amateur star, Aleksandr Trifonov to Byker.
Neil Conlon, the owner of O’Tooles, is excited by the prospects of the 29-year-old who will me coached by the man who made history by being the North-East’s first world champ, Glenn McCrory, and managed by Tyneside fight figure, Steve Wraith.
But that is just the tip of the boxing iceberg.
There are THREE professionals already training at 306 Byker Road, Louis Isaacs, Dean Laing and George Brockhurst.
McCrory coaches Isaacs who has left London to train under the former IBF cruiserweight champion. To good effect too, the 21-year-old, from Islington, has reeled off five straight wins.
Laing is under the guidance of Owen Reay and managed by Phil Jeffries following his return to Tyneside, having started professional life in Manchester with Pat Barrett at the Black Flash HQ.
The 28-year-old also has five wins (against one loss) and has triumphed at Dunston’s Lancastrian Suite on his last two appearances.
Brockhurst has yet to make his paid debut having become the latest from the Forest Hall production line.
An amateur team-mate of Lewis Ritson and Terence Wilkinson, Brockhurst is also being managed by Jeffries (the pair are pictured above) and is being trained by well-known Geordie coach, Micky Duncan, who boxed 30 times as a pro, including against Lloyd Honeyghan.
“When O’Tooles was opened I wanted a gym that would be enjoyed by all,” said Neil. “But one of my dreams was that it would become a centre of excellence for boxing.
“We’ve got four here now and that’s not bad in our first year, is it?
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“Louis came up here last year to train with Glenn, Dean has returned home and George is starting his journey as a pro and will be under the watchful eye of Micky.
“I believe O’Tooles to be one of the best gyms in the UK and to have four professional fighters working out of here is proof of the reputation we are building.”
Trifonov is due in the North-East in late spring with his team hoping to make big strides with him.
Words: Roy Kelly
