EAMON O’Kane goes into his third consecutive title battle with an imprint of Bernardo Checa’s right boot on his rear end.
O’Kane claims he got a ‘kick up the arse’ after his bout on the last Carl Frampton undercard, despite beating former European middleweight champion Kerry Hope to claim the IBF Inter continental title.
While O’Kane beat the Welsh Dragon his performance wasn’t as slick as the display he produced against Irish Champion Anthony Fitzgerald.
As a result Checa and his team hammered home a few home truths post bout and the former amateur standout has responded in kind. Rather than sulk ‘King Kane’ has rejoiced in the honest appraisal and plans to re produce his best on the This is Belfast Card.
“The last fight was a real kick up the back side. I got in 60 to 70 rounds of sparring this time I have done over 100,” said O’Kane.
“It wasn’t anything specific, just Bernardo pointing out wee bad habits I need to break. Maybe dropping the hands or not throwing your punches sharp enough. They are very good at highlighting your weak points and giving you a kick up the backside and it has worked for me. The best lesson are learnt that way. Like when your mother warmed your arse when you done something wrong and you say to yourself ‘I am never doing that again’.
“We are ready for this fight everything has gone perfect (in training). Bernardo gave me a kick up the back side I still have improvements to make and hopefully you will see it on Friday night.”
O’Kane claimed an IBF ranking as well as an IBF title in his last outing and he plans to do the same when he fights Alvaro Gaona for the WBC silver International title on the undercard of Carl Frampton’s World title eliminator.
Like his former International team mate the Derry fight is keen to get into World title contention.
“When I started boxing I wanted to win Irish titles as an amateur now I am pro I want to be a world champion. I want to be in the rankings. I want to be up there and show people how good Eamonn ‘King’ Kane can be. I have never turned down anybody. When Cyclone Promotions offered me a fight I have always taken it. What I have seen of this guys record he is a guy that comes to fight And I am going nowwhere so it should be a good fight.”
