O’Kane: Fitzpatrick has got in my head and re-jigged my approach

‘BREATH’ of fresh air Paddy Fitzpatrick has put the wind back in World title hopeful Eamonn O’Kane’s sails.

The Derry fighter has been working with George Groves Irish trainer in Swindon for a number of months now and fights under Fitzpatrick’s stewardship for the first time this coming Saturday.

The former Prizefighter winner claims Fitzpatrick has completely transformed him and stresses he enters the most important faze of his career a smarter fighter.

“He has completely re-jigged my boxing and train of thought,” O’Kane told local press in Swindon.

“It was pretty obvious what my game plan was before – go, go, go, fight, fight, fight.

“Don’t get me wrong, there will be times that I will have to go and I will have to fight, but it is smart work. That is the ethos of the gym.

“Everything is dedicated to where my stance is, to where my position in the ring, to how you react and how you behave.

“It is fantastic. It is a breath of fresh air. It is great to have that constructive plan.

“I really hope that I do it as good as he wants me to do it because I know if I do that, then it will be a sensational night.”

If the Derry fighter avoids defeat in Swindon on Saturday he will keep alive his World title dreams. O’kane is highly ranked with the IBF, who have just sanctioned Felix Sturm versus Hassan N’Dam for their vacant middleweight title. Victory for N’Dam, who is managed by Cork fighter Gary Hyde, could pave the way for an O’Kane versus N’Dam world title bash- and Hyde has said he is willing to do that fight in Ireland.