Colwood boxer Liam O’Brien dethroned a three-time national champion.
O’Brien earned the light fly weight title in Quebec City, Nov. 22, at the amateur boxing national championships.
Still a newbie in the sport, O’Brien had only been boxing for six months when he entered the ring against Ryan Dillman. His 17-year-old opponent was a three-time national champion who had a 35 fight history.
O’Brien, 16, had just four fights under his belt, two wins and two losses.
“I wasn’t really nervous because there was nothing I could really lose. He had everything to lose,” said O’Brien
Since becoming national champion, O’Brien has new found confidence in and out of the ring.
“Liam dropped him twice in the third round,” said his coach Nathan Olson. The youth is the first national champ to come out of Olson’s Gym in Colwood where he trains four times a week.
“Now the biggest thing is to get him as many fights as we can to get him some more experience,” said Olson.
Weighing in at 49 kilograms, O’Brien is fighting in the lightest weight class in amateur boxing.
“It’s hard to find him fights in his weight class,” the coach said. “We are hoping he can put on five or six pounds this year.”
The Belmont Grade 11 student will be fighting at Feb. 1-2 at Tacoma Golden Gloves in Washington State.