NEW SURROUNDS: Announcer prepared for new challenge

JAMES O’Shea has called in front of hundreds of thousands overseas. Now he is ready for his first task in the post-COVID boxing world.

James O'Shea (left) will ring announce for the Locked Down Lights Up card at Smithy’s TGW Gym on Saturday. Photo: File

BOXING: James O’Shea has been a ring announcer for the likes of Anthony Mundine and Jeff Horn, and had his voice heard on the international stage.

On Saturday night, O’Shea will be the voice of the Locked Down Lights Up card at Smithy’s TGW Gym in front of an intimate crowd of less than 100 due to COVID restrictions.

He anticipates the card will have a distinct feel to it, and has praised promoter Brendon Smith for adapting, not cancelling.

“It’s a very different scenario than we’re used to,” O’Shea said.

“I’ve been lucky enough to ring announce in packed houses, whether it be Rumours International, Beijing or the Kings Cup in Thailand,

“To come back and do an event for less than 100 people is different, but in my role it’s the same. I have a job to ring announce to the best of my ability.

“Smithy’s TGW Gym is a fantastic gym, and anyone that has walked into it is in awe. To see what it looks like now and to see it transferred into a TV studio, it’s like a little colosseum.

“Brendon needs to be applauded for the innovation. Something we’ve learnt through COVID is that you can either postpone, cancel or reinvent, and to see the way he has reinvented a boxing event is a testament to his hard work.

“Mention needs to go to Zac Ford from Digital Dynamics who will be beaming it to the world. Brendon is always looking to support local business.”

Steven Spark will main event the program in his IBF Australasian Super Lightweight bout with Michael Whitehead.

Four other fights will take place on the undercard, and O’Shea said he is keeping his eye on two young fighters in particular who will make their professional debuts.

“There’s a couple of young guys that I’m keen to see. Jake Wyllie is exciting,” he said.

“I’ve been really impressed with the young man from Warwick. I’ve seen him in the amateurs and the Brayd Smith Cup.

“He seems a lovely young guy that is level-headed, and I’m really looking forward to see what he can do on the card.

“Benjamin Hussain is another. He went to the youth Commonwealth Games, the Hong Kong Cup and was earmarked as a future Olympian.

“He’s another that looks highly promising, and to see young guys like him on the program is truly special.”

Throughout his time around the ring, O’Shea has had the honour of watching local boxers flourish from their debuts through to fighting on the big stage, something he describes as one of the more rewarding parts of the profession.

“You see these stars born at a domestic level and in front of your eyes when they step into the ring for the first time,” he said.

“Kris George, Brent Rice and Will Young are perfect examples. Herman Ene-Purcell went from fighting in a footy tag-team to taking on some big names in Australia like Willie Nasio and Paul Gallen.

“It’s one of the highlights in my position, to get the best seat in the house, and some of my best friends I’ve met through boxing.”

The five-fight Locked Down Lights Up card can be viewed on Epicentre.TV.

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