Dungiven boxer O’Kane switches trainers

Eamonn O'Kane has switched to trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye

Eamonn O’Kane has made the brave move by leaving his home, family and friends to train under the watchful eye of Paddy Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick - who also trains George Groves - will watch on as O’Kane takes to the ring in Swindon on February against Frankie Borg after leaving his Dungiven home to train full-time in England.

O’Kane - who trained in Belfast with Bernardo Checa before the move - has left his two young children at home - but he says he had to make the move.

“It is very difficult,” he said. “My wife, Nicola; we have been married since June 2007.

“I love her very much and it breaks my heart leaving them (five-year-old Charlie and three-year-old Oscar) every week.

“But I have got to do what I have got to do,” he continued.

“I have got to make the best of what I can do. If it means a bit of extra effort and travel for a period of time and I become a better boxer and achieve what I can achieve, then I will be able to retire happy,” he added.

And he says he is enjoying working under Fitzpatrick and that now has a plan for the months ahead.

“Over the next two to three years, I want big things to happen.

“I think I’m in the right place and I’m very grateful to Paddy and the team for welcoming me in.

“I want to achieve more. I want to fight for world titles and win world titles. There’s definitely a window there now,” added O’Kane.