Danny O’ Connor- Boxing & the House of Blues

Exclusive Interview by Marc Anthony

“I believe that hard work will pay off. It’s how I live my life in everything that I do. It’s not just the way I train it’s a lifestyle.” – Danny O’ Connor

Boxing is ever evolving. Having survived wars, a major recession and the next big thing, boxing and its athletes have always found a way to captivate the audiences’ mind. One such athlete that not only puts in the gym time but also knows the importance of getting the word out is Danny O’ Connor, 16-1 4 KO’s.

Danny O is a young man, with the help of his new partnership with the ever popular band “Dropkick Murphys” have made history by being the very first professional boxing match to showcase the House of Blues in Boston. Not only is this a first for Boston House of Blues but it will showcase matches between Boston Pro’s vs. New York Pro’s.

All this will happen on May 24th for tickets and more information visit dannyoconnorboxing.com.

The charismatic Danny O sits with RSR and shares a bit of himself to our readers…

MA: What is in the horizon for Team O’ Connor?

I am going Main Event back in Boston on May 24th. It’s at the House of Blues in Boston. It’s the first time they had Professional Boxing at the House of Blues.

MA How did you guys manage that?

Well my new partnership with Ken Casey and the Dropkick Murphys, we wanted to go with a blend of Boxing and Rock and Roll so the House of Blues is a perfect venue for that.

MA: How long have you been in Texas for?

I’ve been in Texas since July.

MA: What was it like having been away from your family so long?

Yeah, it’s been an up and down road. When I first came here in July, Liam, my son, was only four months old and they couldn’t make the trip with me because I didn’t have anything situated. I didn’t know where I was going to live. So, I came here down by myself. I ended doing six months here by myself. Then, in December, I got my own apartment and they moved down here with me. They have only been here just a few months. It makes it just that much better having your family. It really does.

MA: You’re training with Ronnie Shields?

Yeah, Ronnie Shields, the best in the world.

MA: Who is your sparring partner as you get ready for fights?

My sparring partner right now, actually tomorrow is Lanard Lane, he is from here in Texas and is a great, great, guy. His only loss come to another good fighter Michael Dallas, he is a firefighter too. The level of competition in the gym right here is great. Coach Ronnie trains a lot of people like Erislandy Lara, Brian Vera, and one of my good friends Edwin Rodriguez right here too. Yeah there is a bunch of us.

MA: Your weight division is stacked. Anyone that you would love to see yourself match up with?

There is no one that really stands out in my mind that I just want to sit here and call out. Anyone at that elite level I would love to fight and match up my skills to see where I am at. There all the big fights… the ultimate goal is to win world championship belts and it doesn’t really matter who. To be the best you have to beat the best. Anyone at that elite level I look forward to fight.

MA: In your mind, what would be a perfect boxing match for you?

That’s a hard question. I think the big thing is that I am in there doing the fighting but having such a good trainer in the corner with Ronnie Shields. I think my perfect boxing match would be listing to everything he tells me in the corner. Yeah, to a certain extent, I am the one in their getting hit but you give that person in your corner a certain power also. You have faith in your team and your corner. And I have absolute faith in everything Ronnie tells me. I would say my perfect boxing match is listing to everything Ronnie tells me in the corner and executing it.

MA: A while back you ran into health problems, to the point that you were coughing up blood before a match…can you talk about that?

I had a big night under the lights. My first Showtime I fought Gabriel Bracero, we were both undefeated at the time and I had some health issues. I ended up coughing a bit of blood before the fight and after the fight I found out I had an ulcer. From the blood loss, I was anemic and I actually broke my nose during the fight. I ended up having to go in for nasal surgery which was a tough time. It was a tough period in my life. My baby was only a month old and my biggest night of my life when you are supposed to really shine it was kind of totally the opposite. I had my whole life pulled away from me in a second. But you really find out who is there for you when you are down. I don’t regret anything. I came back strong from it. A wise man, Ronnie Shields, told me when I first met him if I am looking at the past I am going miss the future. I put the loss behind me, I look forward to progressing with my career and getting better and achieving those goals that I set out: If being a world champion was easy everyone would be it.

MA: Are you a boxing fan?

I am huge boxing fan. Trust me, I don’t do this because I love getting punched in the face. I love the sport I always have. I don’t have a crazy background like some people you see they are one of eight brothers who all fight and they started at the age of two.

It’s not like that for me. Boxing was self-chosen. I was a bit older than everyone else. I started boxing till I was fifteen or sixteen. It was when I could choose for myself. The second I picked up a pair of gloves I loved it. I am in love with the sport. I am not just a boxer I am a student of the game. I try to educate myself as much as I can. I am always on twitter following everybody and I try to stay up with the action.

MA: What’s your twitter?

Oh yeah, got to get on twitter man, I am always on that. I need some more followers. It’s DOC_Boxing.

MA: Who do you have between Mayweather vs. Cotto?

I am going with Mayweather because he is a very intelligent fighter. He has a game plan and sticks to it. I am going pick Mayweather on that one.

MA: Pacquiao vs. Bradley?

I like Bradley in that one. He is a really hard worker. I am going with Bradley. I don’t know what the odds are if he is the underdog, but yeah, I like Bradley on that one.

MA: I noticed you use “HERE WE GO, HERE WE GO, DANNY O!”

Yeah, it’s my chant. That’s what everyone chants. It makes me feel cool; it makes me feel like a Ricky Hatton atmosphere when they chant it. It was developed by the Dropkick Murphys. Hopefully they will be doing that at the weigh-ins and at the fight.

This fight, at the House of Blues, part of the proceeds goes to charity. It’s the charity that I work with and Ken Casey’s charity called “The Claddagh Fund.”

MA: Who do they help out?

They help recovering addicts, people like servicemen, underprivileged children. It’s a great cause. I am happy to be able to help support it.

MA: You consider yourself a throwback fighter, blue collar and hard work type of guy?

Yes, absolutely. I think that is why me and the Dropkick Murphys clicked so much because we have some of the same morals. I feel I am a lot different than the average person these days. I have a real blue collar hard work attitude. I never had a lack of motivation. I always run that extra mile. I believe that hard work will pay off. It’s how I live my life in everything that I do. It’s not just the way I train it’s a lifestyle.

MA: You feel that right now we are missing that, living on the computer age that we do?

I think that a lot of people , they would rather do this or that to make it easy than go for say a walk around the block or do something active. I am a beast at training. Like it is said, hard work is a lifestyle so is training. I am at the gym two, three or four times a day. I still make time to go for a walk around the block with my wife and son. Or do something active. We got a little pond here we go fishing. Something to get outside, I can’t stare at a TV all day and not go crazy. However, I don’t want to say too much because I am wrapped up in this fucking reality TV dude. It amazes me! Just before you called me I was watching a show called “Pawn Stars.” It blows my mind this reality TV dude. It’s not like how it used to be, not at all.

MA: Would you be willing to be in a reality show?

(Laughter) I guess I would be willing to do anything if it helped out the O’Connor brand. But again, I guess you need some sort of craziness to have a reality show like these Jersey Shore kids.

I am a pretty simple guy. I train all day and anytime I am not training I am spending it with my family. Those are the two things that make me happy in this life and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Danny O’ Connor
Division: Light Welterweight
Professional Record: 16-1-0, 4 KO’s

2011-10-21 Bryan Abraham 5-7-2 Mashantucket, US W UD 6
2011-09-21 Jaime Del Cid 7-5-0 Manchester, US W TKO 1
2011-04-08 Gabriel Bracero 14-0-0 Laredo, US L UD 8

2010-11-20 Humberto Tapia 15-15-1 Uncasville, US W UD 8
2010-09-15 Jose Angel Roman 11-26-5 Manchester, US W UD 6
2010-05-22 Broderick Antoine 10-9-1 Uncasville, US W UD 6
2010-03-19 Franklin Gonzalez 13-3-0 Lincoln, US W UD 8

2009-11-20 James Hope 4-2-0 Lincoln, US W UD 6
2009-09-23 Patrick Cape 6-7-0 Manchester, US W TKO 3
2009-07-31 James Helmes 6-4-0 Hollywood, US W UD 6
2009-06-27 Sebastien Hamel 10-19-1 Boston, US W UD 6
2009-04-25 Travis Hartman 9-11-1 Mashantucket, US W UD 4
2009-03-14 Charles Wade 4-7-0 Dorchester, US W TKO 1
2009-02-27 Jamar Saunders 2-1-1 Hollywood, US W MD 4
2009-01-30 Gregorio Jimenez 0-0-0 Montreal, CA W UD 4

2008-11-11 Anthony Woods 5-10-0 Hollywood, US W UD 4
2008-09-17 Jose Guerrido 0-2-0 Manchester, US W TKO 2