O’Kane determined to keep World title dream alive with Derry win
EAMONN O’Kane hopes ‘a rough and ready’ Derry crowd will help him protect his World title dream on May 2.
IBF #7 ‘King Kane’ knows victory in his home town early next month will move him a step closer to a World title shot. The Commonwealth Games gold medal winner takes on the undefeated Lewis Taylor at the Lavey community center and believes the crowd could play a major part in ensuring the 33 year old keeps alive his World title dream.
“I hope we have a rough and ready crowd and an unbelievable atmosphere to help me get over the line. That support will give me that extra one or two percent to get me the win,” said O’Kane.
“Evryone knows that in my division in the IBF, there is lots of movement because of Jermain Taylor vacating the title. Hassan N’Dam and David Lemieux are fighting for his belt. They are ranked one and five, while I am ranked seven, so we are in touching distance of that World title.
“So if I win on May 2 I am right in and I intend to do a great job on May 2 and I am a fighting guy, who likes to entertain and that is what you are going to get.”
If former Anthony Fitzgerald opponent N’Dam claims the strap a World title fight with O’Kane is make-able considering the Cameroonian, who beat Andy Lee in the Athens Olympics, is managed by Cork man Gary Hyde. So with a shot firmly insight it is safe to say the popular Derry middleweight’s team wouldn’t have wanted an overly risky fight. O’Kane, however points out the English 160lbs operator has more wins than he has fights and is expecting a tough challenge, albeit a test he is confident he will pass.
“I respect Taylor and he is coming over here to my backyard and I hope we give Lewis a rowdy welcome to this part of the world.
“Taylor is unbeaten. He has more wins than I have fights, so he has my total respect but I intend to do a good job, protect my title and push myself up the rankings.
