12 Things you didn’t know about the 'Hellraiser' Gary Corcoran
Londoner Gary “Hellraiser” Corcoran (17-1) has landed the WBO world welterweight title shot against Australian Jeff “The Hornet” Horn (17-0-1) on December 13 in Brisbane, which prompted many critics from around the globe to ask the question, "Who is Gary Corcoran?"
Brits know the “Hellraiser” very well, especially after his epic battle against Welshman Liam Williams for the British super-welterweight title in July 2016, resulting in his one and only career defeat. He has entertained on these shores for six-years but the rest of the world aren't clued up on the absorbing, all-action, aggressive fighter.
For the benefit of those that aren’t educated on the North London “Hellraiser”, here’s 12 things you probably didn’t know about the Wembley puncher:
1. Gary is one of nine brothers! He is the seventh oldest and personally claims to have been the worst boxer of them all when starting off, which is backed up by all of his siblings becoming amateur Internationals with either England or Ireland, except for Gary.
2. Despite this slow start, Gary became a standout amateur, winning the prestigious Haringey Box Cup twice at two different weights.
3. As an amateur, he was a serial semi-finalist, reaching the Junior ABA’s and CYP semi-finals twice each and the London ABA semi’s once.
4. He debuted on Fireworks Night in 2011 on the undercard of Ricky Burns’ interim WBO world lightweight title fight with Michael Katsidis at Wembley Arena, beating journeyman Billy Smith on points, alongside fellow debutant Frank Buglioni.
5. Older brother’s Eddie and Billy were also professional boxers before him. Eddie won eight and lost one during 2006 – 2012, and Billy had an impressive record of 17-2-1, winning the English super-featherweight title in 2005 and challenging for the British. It doesn’t end there as Gary’s younger brother Simon Corcoran is about to turn professional with Frank Warren.
6. He has fought 16 of his 18 professional fights in London – nine at the York Hall, four at Wembley Arena and three at the Copper Box – and once each in neighbouring Wales and Northern Ireland.
7. Gary, born in London, is a proud traveller of the Corcoran family from Galway, Ireland.
8. He is 27-years-old and trains at the Peacock Gym in London with trainer Frank Greaves.
9. He is a two-weight WBO Inter-Continental champion, first winning the super-welterweight belt against English middleweight titlist Danny Butler in March 2016 and then the welterweight version in his last fight against unbeaten Larry Ekundayo.
10. He has ruined the unbeaten record of three top prospects – Ricky Godding (21-0-1) in July 2015 and then Rick Skelton (13-0) in the next fight in September 2015 – both at Wembley Arena; and his latest fight against 2012 Prizefighter winner Larry Ekundayo (12-0) last July at the Copper Box Arena.
11. He is currently ranked #10 with the World Boxing Organisation.
12. The previous holder of his current WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title was none other than his future opponent Jeff Horn!
Follow Gary Corcoran on Twitter @GaryCorcoran21