A visa snafu knocked Ryan O’Rourke out of his high stakes Madison Square Garden bout with fellow undefeated junior welterweight Alex Vargas last week.
The Dubliner was scheduled in New York on Tuesday but was denied entry into the United States because he had the wrong visa.
“[He] didn't have the P-1 visa which all athletes who get paid in the States should have,” O’Rourke’s father, Steven, told the Echo.
A P-1 visa is a non-immigrant U.S. visa for internationally recognized athletes (P-1A), individual athletes, and entertainment groups (P-1B) coming temporarily to perform at specific competitions or events. It generally allows a 5-year stay for individuals or 1-year for teams.
Instead, the young fighter had a visitor’s visa and when he tried to go through customs, he was asked the purpose of his trip and he said to box. So, he was stopped from entering the country. O’Rourke was predictably gutted.
Dubbed “The Silent Assassin,” the 26-year-old O’Rourke [13-0, 3 KOs] was replaced on the Garden card by the previously unbeaten Rani Jalomo [7-0-1, 4 KOs] out of Chicago. He lost an eight-round unanimous points decision to Vargas, who improved to 15-0 [5 KOs].
FEARLESS VOW
“Fearless” Feargal McCrory is vowing to make a big come-back after his recent loss to former world featherweight champion Mark Magsayo at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The Tyrone native was stopped in the fifth stanza of a their scheduled 10-rounder.
“It’s been nearly a week and it still hurts. I hate losing,” McCrory posted on social media. “I gave everything, sacrificed what was needed, and it just didn’t go my way. I’m gutted. But I own it!
“To be honest, I’m a bad loser — but that’s also what drives me. I absolutely hate losing, and that’s exactly why this setback will become the platform for something bigger. Watch. I’ll prove it next time out.
“Thank you to everyone who reached out. The support means more than you know. I’m very lucky to have the team and supporters I do. And to my unbelievable sponsors — you’re the best in the business. I’m hurting. I’m down. But I will be back.”
The 33-year-old had props for promoters Zuffa Boxing, a new outfit that also promotes hot Cork middleweight prospect “King” Callum Walsh.
“You’re changing the fight game. If more promotions treated fighters the way you do, boxing would be in a much better place,” he said.
