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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ben Davies

Jamie O'Hara would rank boxing victory alongside reaching FA Cup Final

Jamie O'Hara has admitted victory on his boxing debut would rank alongside his appearance in the FA Cup Final back in 2010.

The 42-year-old will make his ring debut against Kris Boyson on April 2 when he takes on fitness star Boyson at The O2 arena on the undercard of Martyn Ford's clash with the 'Iranian Hulk'.

O'Hara had a successful football career where he made 34 appearances for boyhood club Tottenham in addition to reaching an FA Cup final while on loan at Portsmouth.

He has now admitted that any victory next month would rank in his top five biggest achievements due to him being far out of his "comfort zone".

“I would say I would put it up there," O'Hara told Mirror Fighting . "FA Cup, League Cup Final and debut for Spurs are the ones up there.

Jamie O'Hara played in the 2010 FA Cup Final defeat to Chelsea with Portsmouth (Getty Images)

"If I do actually do really well, I would definitely put it in my top five achievements. I am out of my comfort zone and I am doing it at The O2 arena. I am banking on my pressure and Kris Boyson will crumble under the pressure.

"I am going to win, I reckon I will knock him down in the second and the referee will stop the fight in the third round. Second round I will put him on his ass.

"I am going to break his nose because he has a fake nose and fake teeth and I also know he has a few issues with his ribs and that so I am going straight for them.”

O'Hara has been in training ahead of the clash and has been pictured sparring in which he even admitted he struggled to deal with the tempo.

After a spell at non-league side Billericay Town, O'Hara hung up his boots at the back end of 2020 and pursued his career as an analyst for talkSPORT and Sky Sports.

However the opportunity was presented to him after he came in contact with celebrity boxing promotion Boxstar on social media.

Will Jamie O'Hara win his boxing debut in April? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below

“I followed the company that does them and they said ‘would you be up for it?’" O'Hara continued. "I miss that environment where you have to train hard and come out to a big crowd.

"Being there on a big night and I missed that after giving up football coming out to the big crowds and the buzz of the big occasion. I jumped at the chance.

“Monday, Wednesday and Thursday I have been training at a boxing gym. I have actually had to stop this week as I have bust my shoulder punching someone.

"I try and do a couple of different runs, but it is hard dedication and I have to do it because I don’t want to look like an idiot on fight night. The training is hardcore he is treating me like a professional but I have enjoyed it."

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