Dominant Derry boxer Connor Coyle aiming for Autumn return

By Gary Ferry

Slowly but surely, Connor Coyle is making boxing promoters in the Unites States sit up and take notice.

The Derry Light Middleweight is now 6-0 after dominating Joshua Maxwell at the Fire Fist card at the A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa on Saturday night past. The fight, one-sided from first minute to last, saw Coyle score a knockdown in the fifth before emerging as a unanimous victor on the score cards, 60-53, on all three judges’ score cards.

The bout was streamed live by Golden Boy Promotions, who wasted no time in approaching Coyle’s management team after the impressive performance to make their interest known in covering the 27-year-old’s next contest.

The interest is rising in Coyle, who showed no ill effects at stepping up to six rounds for the first time in his professional career and against an extremely durable opponent.

“I got the six rounds so it was definitely my longest performance but I don’t mind that because we’re moving straight into eight rounds after this one The guy I fought was very, very tough. He came to knock me out.

“His two fights previous had two first round knockouts and he told the journalists over there in the build up to the fight that ‘I’ll give the Irishman the second round before I knock him out’. He caught me with a few shots which didn’t hurt but I heard the crowd react. I thought ‘You’re supposed to be a big puncher’ so I lost the head and went toe to toe, and once I started opening up, he didn’t want to know.”

Coyle was classy throughout, moving well and throwing nice combinations and his knockdown in the penultimate round all but secured the win. To his surprise however, Maxwell got back to his feet and finished the fight.

“He kept coming, he didn’t back off, but the referee or the corner men should have thrown the towel in at the end of the fifth round because he took too much punishment,” he insisted. “Afterwards the doctor said to me that he was suspending him for 60 days because he definitely had a concussion.

“He wouldn’t speak after the fight, he just came over to me, grabbed my hand and bowed down in front of me. I walked past him outside when I was going home and he was in a bad way. He definitely took too many shots. The shots were hard as well, which is why I was surprised he wasn’t knocked out. He was the toughest person I ever fought anyway, that’s for sure.”

Ever the perfectionist however, Coyle was far from happy with his display, insisting he could have done better in certain moments.

“I felt good but I felt slow in there as well,” he explained. “I didn’t feel like I was boxing too well. I was happy with my performance and happy with my win but I always feel that I can do better.  I watched the fight back and there were times when my hands were low when they shouldn’t have been and I could see punches that I should have thrown which I didn’t. It’s still a learning game though; it’s only six fights and I have a long way to go yet.”

Coyle is now back in Derry with his family awaiting news of his next contest, which will take place in only a matter of weeks.

“I’m back in the gym and I was back out on the roads at 6 in the morning yesterday,” he continued. “Golden Boy and Ring TV told my manager they would be in touch about a show in Boston in September on ESPN. We also were in contact with a boy in Florida about a PBC fight on October 3. We’re still talking with both of them, so we’ll see who gives us the best offer, but I should be fighting in the next six weeks regardless and that will be right rounds.”

Cooley to bounce back

Meanwhile, Coyle has backed fellow Derry man John Cooley to bounce back after he suffered a shock first round defeat to Joseph Cole. A backhand right from Cole at the end of the first led to a delayed reaction knockdown as Cooley slumped to one knee and could not beat the count, suffering his first professional defeat.

“I know for a fact that Cooley was definitely a better fighter but one punch can change anything,” Coyle said. “I don’t think his head was ready to go into battle that night. Even leading up to it, the amount of stuff he had to do; there was a lot on his plate. He didn’t want to say no to the fight because he didn’t want to let anyone down, but he might learn from it now.

“I think he’ll be back round. I don’t think he’ll want to retire on a defeat. I think he’ll be back and get a couple more fights because I’m sure he would want to retire on a high. I know when he does retire h doesn’t want to take a step back, he wants to stay involved with my fights as well as he was back in June.”

Connor would like to thank his sponsors for their continued support. His thanks go to the following local companies: Classique Floor Designs, Olympus Fitness, G&K Contracts, Paul’s Butchers, Doire Dress Designs, The Metro Bar, the Bentley Bar, The Beauty Box, Strike, ThanksJosh Clothing, Three Bridge Cars, Fighting Fit and City Property Estate Agents.