Up Close And Personal With Antonio Counihan, Ahead Of His Pro Debut

Acourtier Events

Present

NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS

Featuring

ANTONIO COUNIHAN

4^th October 2013 @ York Hall, Bethnal Green, London

Up Close And Personal With Antonio Counihan, Ahead Of His Pro Debut

Photos and Interview by Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro

For this edition of Up Close and Personal I recently caught up with former amateur star Antonio Counihan, ahead of his highly anticipated professional debut, on the Dave Murphy, Acourtier Events, promoted NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS mega event at York Hall on Friday 4^thOctober.

During his stellar amateur career young Antonio fought eighty competitive bouts, fifteen of which were Team GB Internationals, accruing numerous national accolades along the way, including winning the Junior ABAs, The Great Britain Championships and the Haringey Box Cup, as well as the ultimate honour of having the Captaincy of the England National Amateur Boxing Squad bestowed upon him.

With such an outstanding amateur pedigree behind him, it should come as no surprise that Antonio is being hailed as a future Champion.

OK, scene setting done, now let’s get onto the interview.

Name: Antonio Counihan 

Division : Lightweight 

Born: Birmingham, England 

Age : 22

Rio: Do you come from a family boxing background?

Antonio: I'm from a boxing background, my dad boxed amateur, all my uncles boxed amateur, my brother boxed and my mum bought me a boxing glove cake for my first birthday, so boxing’s in my blood.

Rio: When did you first become interested in boxing and why?

Antonio: As far as I can remember I’ve been interested in boxing, I remember my dad and family all coming round our house to watch big fights!

I use to have gloves when I was a kid and spar my dad and brother!

Rio: Why did you decide to turn pro?

Antonio: I won the Junior ABAs and the British title, I was England captain and part of team GB boxing but just missed out on going to a Olympic qualifier.

I just beat the world champion and the GB lad who went to the qualifier.

I had 80 amateur bouts, so me and my dad decided it was time to turn pro.

Rio: Who are the main ‘Team Counihan’ members?

Antonio: My dad is head coach, my brother Louie Counihan  is my strength and conditioning coach, Neil Hateley is my fitness coach and Jon Pegg is part of the gym.

Where do you train and what is your training schedule?

I train at my dad’s gym Eastside boxing club in Birmingham.

I train six days a week, twice a day. We do fitness training Tuesdays and Thursday, spar and pads Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I run five times a week and also do technical sessions.

Rio: What would you say your favourite part of training is?

Antonio: I pretty much like all parts if training, there’s a good buzz in our gym at the moment so it makes it more enjoyable.

Rio: Who have you been sparring for your up and coming fight?

Antonio: I’ve had great sparring for my fight I’ve been sparring Curtis Woodhouse, as he’s part of our gym, for his Commonwealth title fight against Derry Mathews.

I’ve also been sparring Ryan Walsh for his British & Commonwealth title fight, against Lee Selby, also gym members like Marcus Ffrench and Carl Wiggings.

Rio: How would you describe your fighting style? :

Antonio: I'm a long-range boxer first, but can fight inside if needed.

Rio: Which has been your favourite fight to date and why?

Antonio: I'd say when I boxed Ray Moylett from Ireland.

He was world champion at the time, it was England versus Ireland in Dublin and he was captain of Ireland team!

It was good to beat him, never mind in his own back yard.

Rio: Who is your all time favourite boxer and why?

Antonio: My favourite all time boxer is Oscar de la Hoya, I’ve watched him since I was a kid.

To be ten times world champ, in six weight divisions is special.

Rio: Keeping in the same vein, all time favourite fight you have watched?

Antonio: Fav fight is probably the Gatti-Ward fights, I watch them on YouTube a lot, it gives me a buzz every time I watch them.

Rio: Which current match-up would you like to see happen this season?

Antonio: There are loads of good fights happening this year but I still would like to see Mayweather versus PacMan.

Rio: What’s your fight day routine?

Antonio: I like to just relax all day!

But I always make sure I have an hour sleep a few hours before my fight, It’s tradition.

Rio: What is your entrance track?

Antonio: I don't have a specific one, but just something that gets me up for it.

Rio: What are your ambitions as a boxer?

Antonio: Ambition is to go to all the way to the top and be world champ.

Rio: Outside boxing, what is your favourite sport?

Antonio: I am a big Birmingham City footie fan.  

I was a season ticket holder for four years, I love going the away games when I get the chance as well.

Rio: How do you relax outside boxing?

Antonio: I relax by going out for food, cinemas and just chilling out really.

Rio: Favourite book?

Antonio: I only read the Boxing News.

Rio: Favourite music?

Antonio: My favourite music is House music and a bit of garage, that’s all that's on my iPod.

Rio: Favourite film or TV show?

Antonio: Fav film has got to be the classic Scarface! My mum and dad got my name from that film "Antonio Montana"

Rio: Twitter and Facebook?

Antonio: Twitter: @counihan91 and Facebook: Antonio Counihan.

Rio: Finally is there anything you want to say to your fans?

Antonio: I'd just say follow my journey to the top, I'm dealing with world rated boxers with ease day in day out in the gym, so I know that's where I'm going.

Antonio Counihan, against a yet to be named opponent, will feature on the Dave Murphy, Acourtier Events promoted ‘NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS’ event, which takes place at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Friday, 4^th October 2013

Tickets, priced £35 (Standard Seated) and £60 (Ringside) are available on-line atwww.tkoboxoffice.com - www.mariannemarston.com - www.acourtier.com - or in person from the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning town – www.tkoboxinggym.com - and Ringtone Gym in Euston - www.ringtonehealthandfitness.com - or from any of the boxers taking part in the event, or call – 07960 850645, 07809 499896 or 07557 641597 for further information.

Go online to www.Acourtier.com for additional information on the NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS event or the Acourtier stable of boxers. Follow Acourtier Events on Twitter @AcourtierEvents - friend us at www.Facebook.com/AcourtierEvents - and on LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/company/acourtier-events

History In The Making: Women’s World Title Fight Headlines London Extravaganza on July 5th

Back in the summer of 2012, the history books were well and truly rewritten, when Women’s Amateur Boxing was featured for the first time at the London 2012 Olympics.

Just one year later and once again the historians are going to get their quills sharpened, as the Capital City hosts the first ever British event to be headlined by a Women’s Professional Boxing World Championship bout.

More importantly, for local aficionados of Women’s Boxing, it’s now South London’s Angel McKenzie, who will be challenging Germany’s Jennifer Retzke for the World Crown, at York Hall on Friday, 5^th July, following the surprise withdrawal by #1 challenger, Sweden’s Mikaela Laurén, last week.

Over the years, British Boxing fans have been more than a bit deprived of action featuring the fairer sex, yes there have been a few minor bouts, including a few featuring Areti Mastrodouka and of course Marianne Marston’s much heralded debut back in April, but really that is just about it.

But just like the famous London red buses, after you’ve spent an age waiting for one, three come along at the same time. That’s right Retzke-McKenzie may be headlining the Dave Murphy Acourtier Events promoted ‘Independence Day’, but that’s not the only female bout to feature on this extravaganza.

The aforementioned Marianne Marston will be back in action, this time she’ll be facing Poland’s #1 ranked Karina Kopinska.

Woolwich based Marianne will be looking to build on her sensational debut performance, where she stopped Hungarian #1 ranked Gabriella Roman in just one minute and forty seven seconds of the first round.

That’s not all, as a further Female bout has recently been added to the card, which features the welcome return to the ring of Salford, Lancashire’s unbeaten Featherweight Maxine McCarthy, following a two year sabbatical from the sport, and is set to face Latvia’s Julija Cvetkova.

It’s not just the ladies in action, recently crowned WBU Lightweight World Champion Stephen ‘The Rock’ Ormond heads up the male portion of the show, as well as a trio of Irish lads taking part on the night.

On his last visit to York Hall, in July last year, Ormond convincingly beat Canning Town’s Mickey Coveney.

Of the back of this superb win, Ormond was presented the opportunity to face Hungarian Laszio Robert Balogh for the vacant WBU crown.

On the 3^rd May 2013, at the Carlton Hotel in Tyrrelstown, Dublin, on just his fourteenth pro outing Ormond stepped into the ring to face thirty three fight veteran Balogh.

Ormond utterly dominated the opening round, before going on to stop the Hungarian in just one minute and fifty four seconds of the second stanza.

On the 5^th July the Dubliner will be facing tough Czech battler Michal Dufek.

Joining his esteemed countryman on July 5^th is Irish Light Middleweight Lee Murtagh who, even though he has fought the majority of his fifty career fights in the UK, will be making his first visit to the famous home of boxing in the Capital, as preparation for his upcoming IBO Inter-Continental title battle.

The final Irish boxer on the show is Steve Collins, no not the legendary two time, two division World Champion, but his son Steve Jr, who will be making his professional debut against Lithuania’s Rolandas Cesna.

On July 5^th, local boxing fans will finally get the chance to see former Fitzroy Lodge amateur star, Lewisham’s Jovan ‘YoungStar’ Young in action, as a pro, for the first time.

Jovan has built himself quite a reputation since turning pro last year, instead of going the standard route, the twenty five year old Light Heavyweight chose to travel to Uraguay and America for his first five bouts.

The big hitting YoungStar stopped his first three opponents, beat on points his fourth and was cruelly denied a certain fifth victory, after some good old fashioned home cooking see him earn a draw on his fifth outing, even though he had won every single round with ease!

On the 5^th July Jovan will be up against another tough American, this Florida’s Manny Muhhamad.

Unbeaten Danish star Osama Hadifi also makes his British debut on July 5^th, like Jovan, Osama has built up quite a reputation, as a knockout artist. The big punching twenty seven year old from Copenhagen has had six pro outings to date, winning them all by first round stoppage.

Mind you on the 5^th July, Osama may find his opponent, Czech Republic’s Jan Holec, a bit more of a challenge, as like the Dane Holec is unbeaten and packs a big punch too, having stopped Petr Gyna in the third round of their contest earlier this month.

Making his most welcome return to York Hall is former English Super Featherweight Champion Ryan Barratt.

During his thirty nine fight career, Ryan regularly secured silverware for his trophy cabinet at Featherweight, Super Feather and Lightweight, however on July 5^th he will be campaigning at Welterweight for the first time.

Ryan’s opponent at the ‘Independence Day’ event will be no nonsense slugger Jan Balog

Finally, making their professional debut are two highly decorated former amateur stars, both of whom are being touted as future World Champions.

The first is Team GB star Antonio Counihan, from Birmingham. A truly exciting young prospect who has not only amassed numerous national and international accolades over the past few seasons, but also was captain of the England squad for some fifteen international competitions.

On the 5^th July Antonio will receive a baptism of fire, as he faces six fight veteran Arturas Zbarauskas.

The second is London based Turkish amateur superstar Shiya Ozgul. Just nineteen years of age Shiya has built up a serious reputation of being ‘one to watch’.

As I said Shiya is just nineteen, yet in his career to date has fought just over a eighty amateur bouts, around half being full internationals, winning an incredible sixty five of them.

The Dave Murphy, in association with Acourtier Events, promoted ‘Independence Day’ event, headlined by the Jennifer Retzke versus Angel McKenzie GBC Light Middleweight World Title clash, takes place at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, on Friday 5^th July 2013.

Tickets, priced £30 (Gallery), £35 (Ground floor standard seated) and £65 (Ringside) are available on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com - www.mariannemarston.com -www.acourtier.com - or in person from the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning town –www.tkoboxinggym.com - and Ringtone Gym in Euston - www.ringtonehealthandfitness.com - or from any of the boxers taking part in the event, or call – 07960 850645, 07809 499896 or 07557 641597 for further information.

Web: www.acourtier.com

Twitter: @AcourtierEvents

Spectrum Radio Competition - Win Ringside Tickets For Retzke-McKenzie World Title Fight On July 5th

Irish Spectrum Radio host Gerry Byrne will be holding a competition on his radio show today. The lucky winner will receive a pair of ringside tickets for the Dave Murphy, in association with Acourtier Events, “independence
Day” extravaganza, which is headlined by the historic Jennifer Retzke versus Angel McKenzie GBC World Light Middleweight title clash, at York Hall in London on Friday 5th July.

This afternoon Gerry will be interviewing newly crowned WBU Lightweight Champion of the World Stephen Ormond, who along with fellow Irishmen Irish Light Middleweight Champion Lee Murtagh, Team GB star Antonio Counihan, former English Super Featherweight Champion Ryan Barratt as well as Irish female Boxer Maxine McCarthy, will also be competing on the July 5th event.

After the interview Gerry will be holding a competition, so make sure you are tuned in to ensure a chance of winning ringside tickets for this most exciting of events in the Capital this year.

Gerry Byrne's interview on Irish Spectrum Radio with Stephen Ormond will be broadcast at approximately 1.15pm on Saturday, 22nd June.

Listeners around the World can tune in to hear the interview at http://www.spectrumradio.net/programmes/irish-spectrum or via companionsite http://www.irishradio.org

If you are unable to get to a radio or the internet on Saturday, don’t worry the interview can also be accessed on the above sites for seven days.

Stephen ‘The Rock’ Ormond, against Michal Dufek, features on the undercard of the Jennifer Rezke - Mikaela Laurén, GBC Light Middleweight World Championship fight, that headlines the Dave Murphy, in association with
Acourtier Events, promoted ‘Independence Day’ event, which takes place at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, on Friday 5th July 2013.

Tickets, priced Ł30 (Gallery), Ł35 (Ground floor standard seated) and Ł65 (Ringside) are available on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com - www.mariannemarston.com - www.acourtier.com - or in person from the TRAD
TKO Boxing Gym in Canning town – www.tkoboxinggym.com - and Ringtone Gym in Euston - www.ringtonehealthandfitness.com - or from Stephen Ormond or any of the boxers taking part in the event, or  call – 07960 850645, 07809 499896 or 07557 641597 for further information.

www.acourtier.com


Background on Irish Spectrum Radio and presenter/producer, Gerry Byrne

The inception of Irish Spectrum Radio was in 1992 when well known Irish broadcaster, Gerry Byrne, started broadcasting his popular weekend show aimed at the Irish Diaspora.  There was a real need for a programme where Irish ex-pats could not only keep up to date with news from home but find out about how they could socialise with others from Ireland here in the UK and also get current information about Irish entertainment, services and public information. Nothing has changed, which is why Gerry was pleased to hear from Dave Murphy and Acourtier about their plans for a great night of boxing on 5th July.

Irish Spectrum's weekend shows are light entertainment programmes with music at their heart.  Sport is also a popular element of the show and Gerry Byrne is delighted to welcome Stephen Ormond onto the show, also
anticipating that he will speak with other boxers who will be on the York Hall card talking to him next week.  Irish Spectrum listeners will be right behind the Irish fighters.  Irish Spectrum are pleased that promoters Dave Murphy in association with Acourtier events are bringing its audience full details of the bumper card, which also features ladies' boxing.  A feature of the weekend shows eagerly awaited is the quiz and listeners will be excited that they will have a chance to win tickets for the Independence Day bouts on 5th July.

Show times for Irish Spectrum Radio are: Saturdays: 12 - 2pm and Sundays 12 - 1am Irish Radio can be accessed online 24/7 at www.irishradio.org

In addition to Gerry Byrne's weekend shows on Irish Spectrum, he presents specials for BBC Radio 3 Counties on his Irish Link programme.  He is also well known on the Irish circuit visiting leading Irish venues as
MC/compere with his Irish Radio Roadshow.  Gerry is frequently the subject of editorials in Irish publications.

Irish Spectrum Radio reached a landmark in 2012 clocking up 20 years on air with Gerry behind the microphone throughout.  Gerry was touched to receive acknowledgements from the Irish Ambassador to the UK, many Irish
organisations in Great Britain, artists such as Nathan Carter and Daniel O'Donnell and, most importantly, listeners recognising his contribution to Irish heritage, culture and entertainment.

Gerry is always pleased to hear about events that will appeal to his audience and collaborating with Dave Murphy and Acourtier Events means he can give a platform to The Irish Invasion boxing night as part of the Independence Day theme, with further dynamic bouts scheduled in the capital later in the year, which will also be highlighted on Irish Spectrum.

Gerry was pleased to realise a vision in 2012 when he launched a companion music station, which broadcasts online 24/7.  This increased airtime has widened the scope of information he can bring to his strong audience base- tune in to www.irishradio.org to hear your favourite Irish country music and for updates on the Dave Murphy and Acourtier Events “Independence Day/Irish Invasion” boxing extravaganza.