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Gareth Fullerton

Belfast boxer "loving it" after Cliftonville boss uses him in team talk

A Belfast boxer says he was "loving it" after Cliftonville manager Paddy McLaughlin referenced him in one of his team talks.

Cliftonville super-fan and unbeaten welterweight Owen O'Neill beat Marek Laskowski on Saturday night to extend his record to 9-0.

The 27-year-old donned the Reds jersey for his post-fight interview which was shown live on TG4.

Read more: That's What I Call Football podcast S5 Ep4

Solitude supremo McLaughlin used the passionate display as a source of inspiration for his own players on Sunday ahead of their Scottish Challenge Cup clash with Queen's Park.

O'Neill told Belfast Live's That's What I Call Football podcast: "I actually got a mention in Paddy McLaughlin's team talk on Sunday.

"I am obviously very good mates with Rory Hale and we were out after the match and ended up blocked.

"But I ended up getting a mention. Paddy said at the start of the team talk that 'this is what it means to the local people , you playing for this top'. He mentioned about me wanting the Cliftonville top straight on for my interview on TV.

"So I was loving that like. My profile is getting bigger through the boxing and at the match on Sunday people were coming up and shaking my hand. It was class."

O'Neill joked that he had watched his Cliftonville-themed interview back "about 50 times" after extending his unbeaten record at the Europa Hotel.

"It was a good win against a former Scottish champion. To be honest it was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be," he said.

"But I watched the fight back about 10 times. My uncle said, 'are you watching that back again'. And then in my interview I am standing with the Cliftonville top on.

"I must have watched that about 50 times."

O'Neill added: "Rory Hale was at the fight. He got six tickets off me.

"Did he pay for them? He is the tightest man in Belfast.

"But it is getting bigger every fight. And it's thanks to Rory who gets them to come along.

"Joe Gormley was at my pro debut, and he was on top of the ring and all going mental.

"I love it."

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