O’Donnell in title frame
12 February 2009 – By Cormac Campbell
John ODonnell could set up an intriguing clash with Irish welterweight champion Stephen Haughian if he prevails in his Commonwealth title clash with Craig Watson on April 11.
The York Hall bout sees the classy 23-year-old London Irishman step up in class against Watson, and he is quick to admit that he believes it will be the first step on the road to even bigger things.
Ive already held the English title and now this shot at the Commonwealth title has come along, he said.
I believe I can go all the way but I want to do things traditionally and work my way up through the titles.
ODonnell, who is part of the same Hennessy Sports/Robert McCracken team as WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch, had been due a shot at the British title late last year but said that the Commonwealth crown was equally important.
I had trained really hard for the Mutley fight and was over at the Breaffy House in Ireland at the Carl Froch training camp. I was firing on all cylinders for it and then on the week of the fight he pulled out so it was a sickener but my promoter Mick Hennessys got me a straight shot now at the Commonwealth title so Im over the moon.
Should ODonnell prevail in the ITV4 broadcasted challenge, a bout with Lurgans Haughian who is expected to fight for the Celtic title against Scotsman Craig Dixon – would be a possibility for later in the year.
