(MAY 1) FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – With
six pro fights under his belt since turning pro last September for
Seminole Warriors Boxing, unbeaten prospect Danny O’Connor is now ready
to move up to 6-round bouts and preparing to go down to the lightweight
division. 2004 U.S. Olympic Team alternate O’Connor (6-0, 2 KOs)
is coming off an impressive win by 4-round decision against 22-fight
veteran Travis Hartman (9-12-1, 7 KOs) last Saturday night on the Froch-Taylor
undercard on Showtime at MGM Grand Foxwoods in Ledyard, Connecticut.
O’Connor twice floored Hartman, who had been in against Cesar Chavez,
Jr., en route to his sixth victory by judges’ scores of 40-34 three
times. “I’m really starting to feel like a professional boxer,” O’Connor
said. “I’m comfortable with everything – what I eat the day of the
fight, how to prepare in the locker room – and I was very relaxed in the
ring. I’m a perfectionist and there must be 100 things I think I could
have done better, but other than a few minor things, I was happy with my
performance. I still think I could have come quicker off my defense like
I usually do and used a few more angles. But I do think it was my best
fight as a pro.
“I’m usually amped-up in a fight but when I knocked down Hartman,
instead of rushing, I looked to Dave in my corner and was patient. I
loved fighting on a big card like that. I could tell it was different
from the weigh in with Froch having such a big cheering section. There
was a Showtime environment. I wasn’t nervous, more excited, because I
wanted to put on a good show for the Showtime people and fans watching
that hadn’t seem me fight before. I think I’m ready for my first
6-rounder and over the course of time I’ll get down to 135. My next
fight I’ll probably weigh 138-139. I just have to concentrate on my good
diet and we’ll see how long it’ll take for me to fight strong at 135.
Right now, it’s just one fight at a time.”
The 23-year-old O’Connor, who defeated 2008 Olympic Gold medalist Felix
Diaz a year ago in a USA-Dominican Republic dual meet, hopes to be
fighting again in June.
“I thought Danny looked real sharp and very relaxed in his fight,” head
trainer and co-manager (with Rob Valle) David Keefe added. “He’s fought
a lot of rounds (19) in his six pro fights and we believe he’s ready to
step-up to fight 6-rounders.”
