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Super lightweight contender Danny O’Connor will make his long-awaited return to the ring on September 21 at the Tenth Annual Fight to Educate event at the Verizon Center in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Though he will always be the fighting pride of Framingham, Massachusetts, O’Connor recently left his wife Diane and five-month-old baby boy Liam behind and relocated to Houston, Texas, to work with legendary trainer Ronnie Shields.
26-year-old O’Connor says he appreciates former trainer Dave Keefe’s work, but it was time to make a switch.
“I want this so bad I’m willing to move where I don’t know anyone, just so I can train with one of the best in the game. I am a fighter and I want to give my family the best life possible, so this is what I had to do.”
O’Connor says that while an undiagnosed health problem, anemia, didn’t help during his SHOWTIME-televised unanimous decision loss to fellow contender Gabriel Bracero last April 8, he admits he also needed some fine tuning in his technique.
That’s where Shields comes in, one of the game’s master craftsman with an arm-long list of past and current high-profile clients. “You can’t help but become a better fighter with Ronnie,” adds O’Connor. “Not only is his list of training accomplishments amazing, he was also an excellent fighter. He’s been all the places I want to go.”
Shields says he wasn’t sure if O’Connor had what it took when first approached by promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing, about working with the young southpaw.
“I said send him down and I’ll see how bad he wants it and let you know. By the end of the first day I knew he was going to work out fine. He has surpassed all my expectations as far as work ethic and desire.”
Shields says he has O’Connor (14-1. 3 KOs) working on sitting down on his punches more and on developing more of a defense than simply relying on reflexes.
“Right now, I’m here with no car. I have to walk everywhere and I’m staying at another fighter’s place until I get settled in. I miss my family and I can’t wait to move them down here, but this is what I have to do to become a champion, so this is what I’m doing.”
O’Connor’s September 21 opponent is currently TBA.
Don’t be ‘Down for the Count’ and Miss the Excitement of the 10th Annual FIGHT TO EDUCATE at the Verizon Wireless Arena on September 21st! The FIGHT TO EDUCATE is a unique charity event that combines a love of sports with the vision of assisting children and seniors in need, who without fundraisers like this could be ‘down for the count’. Last year, over 1,600 people watched with anticipation as Demetrius “Boo-Boo” Andrade impressively knocked out Dave Saunders in the super welterweight match. Over the past 9 years this event has been successful in raising a staggering $500,000+ in donations to benefit local NH non-profit organizations. Join us this year for more heart-pounding excitement and meet some of your favorite boxing legends, such as Gerry Cooney.
PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THESE WORTHY LOCAL NH NON-PROFITS: SEE Science Center www.see-sciencecenter.org,The Bobby Stephen Fund for Educationwww.stepheneducationfund.com and St. Joseph Community Services/Meals on Wheels www.mealsonwheelsnh.org.
Tickets start at just $9 and are available for purchase online atwww.ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster Charge-By-Phone at (800) 745-3000 or in person at the Verizon Wireless Arena Box Office or at any Ticketmaster location. Those wishing to purchase tables shold call Stephen Singer at (603)669-4100 .
Patrons holding table tickets will be served dinner and may enter at 5:30pm. |
