‘I’d definitely do that’ – Snooker’s hardest man and World Championship star wants boxing fight and makes Misfits plea
SNOOKER’s hardest man wants to be involved in a professional boxing fight at some point over the next few years.
Joe O’Connor might be of diminutive stature but he can certainly pack a punch.
The Leicester potter – known for his giant-killing act against Mark Selby on his Crucible debut 12 months ago – is big into his martial arts and does boxing training with a coach.
The world No.30 faces John Higgins, the four-time snooker world champion, over two sessions in round one on Bank Holiday Monday.
But before that clash, the 29-year-old revealed his intention to get into the ring and take on an opponent, preferably with no head guards.
And if he had his choice, he would love to take on the YouTube content creators who fight on the Misfits cards.
O’Connor, who eliminated two-time 147 hero Jackson Page from qualifying, said: “I’m still boxing, up to four times a week now, and doing jujitsu twice.
“Over the last few weeks it’s been a bit tricky to get the sessions in with the qualifiers. But I love it.
“I’ve got a very good coach, Eugene. We do one-to-one sessions. It’s more technical rather than the fitness side.
“I don’t really spar because I don’t want to undergo any unnecessary injuries or have a black eye on TV!
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“I’ve never had a fight, in or out of the ring, but the more I train the more I think I want to give it a go.
“I don’t want to boast but I think I’m a little bit too good for white collar, so it might have to be an actual fight against someone who trains all the time.
“If anyone’s out there who wants me to get on Misfits, I’d definitely do that.
“That side of things is the way that I do it. My weight category would be barely nothing!
“I believe I’m okay, I’m unassuming.
“I might have to change the handshake in snooker to a little jab or something!”
There have been plenty of fights in Sheffield in the past involving snooker players, usually when alcohol has been taken.
There have been headbutts, too, as the late Alex Higgins infamously did against a referee.
Asked which snooker player on the tour he would fancy fighting, O’Connor laughed: “All of them.”
O’Connor, who was beaten by Higgins in last month’s World Open final in Yushan, said: “I enjoyed watching Floyd (Mayweather). And Tyson Fury was good to watch, too.
“I’m starting to learn more about the likes of your Marvin Haglers and learning the technical side of it.
“I’d have to start with amateur fights, but I want to try and turn pro. It would be quite cool to be a pro at a couple of things.”