The last man to beat Groves before Froch, O’Kane wants World title

EAMONN O’Kane is ready to push for a World title and believes he can take a significant step toward a prestigious strap on the undercard of the Frampton v Martinez II undercard.

The IBF Intercontinental title champion is confident he will fight a ‘ranking’ fight on the massive fight night set for an open air venue on September 6 and believes victory will put him in line for a World title eliminator.

“I’ll hopefully be chief supporting act to Frampton in September,” said O’Kane to press in Derry. “I’m at the top, elite level now and I’ll keep myself for that September 6th show.

“There’s been talk of me fighting a ranking fight on the bill. I’m assuming that’s because Kiko Martinez’s IBF title is on the line that I’ll also be defending my IBF title.

O’Kane, who scored an impressive first round knock out victory on the last Carl Frampton card, shared the ring with George Groves and James De Gale as an amateur and is looking to share the spot light with the aforementioned over the coming 12 months.

The Derry middleweight is determined to secure big fights on big shows.

“Carl Frampton is talking about making the fight in front of 20,000 which is the stuff you dream about when you’re growing up. That’s exactly where I want to be, fighting on the big stage.

“When you look at the Carl Froch and George Groves fight at Wembley last week it was fantastic. Before Carl Froch I was the last man to beat Groves. And whenever you’ve been in with boys like Groves and James De Gale, who are the verge of becoming world champions, you wonder why have I not achieved that yet?

“I’m 32 and people are talking about me being in the tail end of my career. I’m in the best shape of my life and as far as I’m concerned it’s all coming together at the right time for me.

“It’ll be a dream come true. You look at Kell Brook who’s now fighting for a world title. He defended the IBF Intercontinental title – the same title as I have. But he seems to be on a bigger stage than me.

“That’s the reality of where I’m at. I’m ranked No. 10 with the IBF in the world. I’m well ranked with the WBC. So I really am in the position to push on.

“I aim to become world champion, it’ll be a dream come true.”