James E O’Connell

News broke today that the hotly anticipated featherweight rematch between defending champion Karl Hodgers (Louth Thai) and challenger James E O’Connell (Courage) would not go ahead. At Cage Kings Dublin last March, Hodgers shocked those in attendance with a first-round TKO victory over defending champion O’Connell to lift the...

In the run up to Saturday night’s event a very small minority of people, who were both uninformed and somewhat disillusioned by their own agendas, made every effort in their power to cancel Cage Kings Dublin 2. However it is testament to the promoters and staff of the event...

Courage Muay Thai’s Liam Purcell makes his Cage Kings debut on March 26th when he faces the experienced Ivo Clinch from Warriors gym in a 67kg B Class Pro Muay Thai bout. Purcell will be joined on the card by his team-mates James E O’Connell and Dylan Meagher making...

It will be remembered as a year of progress. A year in which Muay Thai took its first steps towards becoming an Olympic sport. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided in December to give temporary acknowledgement and an annual grant of $25,000, which signified the possibility of Muay Thai...

“Thai boxing changed my life around. I don’t think I would be here if I didn’t walk into that community hall. I always say that to my trainer and he always makes a joke out of it.” – O’Connell At the age of 19, James E. O’Connell walked into...

It’s been over three years since Karl Hodgers last appeared in front of an Irish crowd but in that brief absence he’s been perfecting his craft in Thailand. On 26th March he’ll mark his comeback at Cage Kings Dublin for the 57kg Caged Thai title against the champion James...