Clan O'Connor Cheers Their Hero to Victory

Fighting in the main event of a six-fight Boston vs. New York card at the Boston House of Blues before 2500 delirious fans, and with a  rock star in his corner, super lightweight boxing prospect Danny O'Connor knew he had to deliver in a big way. Mission accomplished. Showing vast improvements from working with acclaimed trainer Ronnie Shields, O'Connor, now 17-1, 5 KOs, dominated opponent Daniel Sostre of Highland, New York, forcing him to retire on his stool after four rounds. It was the perfect ending to a spectacular event, engineered heavily by The Dropkick Murphys founder and bassist Ken Casey, who also worked O'Connor's corner. The Boston House of Blues sits across from the legendary Fenway Park, and the sold-out crowd (supporters of O'Connor are known as 'Clan O'Connor') included several area sports heroes. The Old Brigade, the Dropkick Murphys customary opening band, performed traditional Irish songs between fights and The Dropkicks themselves took to the stage shortly before O'Connor made his entrance accompanied by bagpipes and a drummer. The unique production created a festive air that brought back memories of boxing's glory days. "I felt amazing," said O'Connor, post-fight. "To be able to do what I'm passionate about, and what I train so hard every single day to do, and be able to perform in front of all my friends and family was an amazing feeling. It was a dream come true." O'Connor says the homerun success of the show goes a long toward the goal of bringing the sport of boxing back to prominence in Boston. "I can't thank Ken Casey enough. He honestly is a godsend to me and I'm blessed to have met him. None of this would have been possible without him." Of his performance, O'Connor credits his work in Houston with the well-respected Shields. "Anyone who knows Ronnie knows he's a legend and it's a different level of training working with him. I'm learning and bettering myself as a fighter every second just being around him. He's great not only as a coach but as a person as well."

With a Rock Star in His Corner and an Army of Fans, O'Connor Ready to Rumble at House of Blues

Few Tickets Remain for 'Boston vs. New York' Boxing Show Tomorrow Night   Expect to hear the chants of "Let's Go Danny O!" at the Boston House of Blues tomorrow night (May 24) as an army of fans known as "Clan O'Connor" assembles to watch their hero, junior welterweight prospect Danny O'Connor (16-1, 4 KOs), headline a seven-bout Boston vs. New York fight card. O'Connor will face Daniel "The Hudson Valley Kid" Sostre (11-5-1) of New York in a 10-round contest. With few of the roughly 1700 tickets still available, mostly standing room and VIP, tomorrow night's debut show at the Boston House of Blues is already a guaranteed smash hit - but smash hits are something O'Connor's rock star manager, Ken Casey, singer and founder of Irish rockers The Dropkick Murphys, is used to. Casey will be assisting O'Connor's legendary trainer, Ronnie Shields, in the corner Thursday night, while the Dropkicks customary opening band, The Old Brigade (with special guests), will provide music between bouts. Framingham, Massachusetts, native O'Connor is both a 2008 junior welterweight US amateur champion and national golden gloves champion (a feet similarly accomplished by greats Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns) as well as a 2008 Olympic alternate. This will be O'Connor's first fight since aligning with the wildly popular band the Dropkick Murphys.  The proceeds from this event will benefit the band's charitable organization the Claddagh Fund. The House of Blues provides a unique three tiered setting with excellent vantage points reminiscent of classic boxing venues.  The remaining standing-room-only tickets properly accommodate O'Connor's rowdy and rock-n-roll inspired fan base.  Tickets to Boston vs. New York can be purchased directly athttp://www.livenation.com/event/0100486DDD72B8B2.  For more information regarding the May 24th fight visitwww.dannyoconnorboxing.com.   Additionally, to learn more about Dropkick Murphys charity and the causes they advocate for visit www.claddaghfund.org.  Don't forget to follow Danny on Twitter at @DOC_Boxing.

Danny O'Connor to Headline First Professional Boxing Match at the Boston House of Blues on May 24

Junior welterweight prospect Danny O'Connor (16-1) is busy preparing for his homecoming match under the tutelage of acclaimed trainer Ronnie Shields in Houston, Texas.  On May 24, O'Connor will headline the first professional boxing card at the Boston House of Blues against Daniel "The Hudson Valley Kid" Sostre (11-5-1) of New York in a 10-round contest. In the shadow of Fenway Park, the night will have an appropriate Boston versus New York theme with each bout showcasing fighters battling for regional supremacy.  Framingham, Massachusetts, native O'Connor is both a 2008 junior welterweight US amateur champion and national golden gloves champion (a feet similarly accomplished by greats Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns) as well as a 2008 Olympic alternate. This will be O'Connor's first fight since aligning with the wildly popular band the Dropkick Murphys.  The partnership's inaugural event is expected to be a sellout with the proceeds benefitting the band's charitable organization the Claddagh Fund.  Live music will also be performed in between bouts by the traditional Irish band The Old Brigade (with possible special guests). The shared vision of O'Connor and the Dropkick Murphys is to reach the top of the boxing world, while restoring the proud tradition of Boston boxing, developing a truly unique fan base called Clan O'Connor, and creating special events that are part sports and part rock-n-roll.  O'Connor explains, "The boxing business is a tough business, but at the end of the day, it's the entertainment business.  Together with the Dropkicks, I think we can create something special in Boston and beyond.  I'm so excited for the future and putting on shows where the fans have so many entertainment options.  The ability to raise money for charity is the cherry on top." The House of Blues provides a unique three tiered setting with excellent vantage points reminiscent of classic boxing venues.  The remaining standing-room-only tickets properly accommodate O'Connor's rowdy and rock-n-roll inspired fan base.  Tickets to Boston vs. New York can be purchased directly at http://www.livenation.com/event/0100486DDD72B8B2.  For more information regarding the May 24th fight visit www.dannyoconnorboxing.com.   Additionally, to learn more about Dropkick Murphys charity and the causes they advocate for visit www.claddaghfund.org.  Don't forget to follow Danny on Twitter at @DOC_Boxing.