Sport

O'Kane handed tough Lithuanian test

EAMONN O'Kane will take on Lithuania's experienced Virgilijus Stapulionis for the IBF Intercontinental Middleweight title on the undercard of Martinez-Frampton II on September 6.

The 'Titanic Showdown' bill is going out live in five continents so O'Kane (right) has the opportunity to make a global statement against big-punching Lithuanian Stapulionis.

A convincing win for O'Kane will elevate the Dungiven stylist up the coveted IBF rankings and into a position to challenge for the world title against current IBF champion Sam Soliman.

The Australian defends his world title against former middleweight champion Jermain Taylor on October 4 and with a win over Stapulionis, O'Kane can expect to move into a position to challenge the winner in the near future.

'King Kane' said: "I need to be tested against boxers of this guy's calibre, I'm in the top-10 in the world and I have to be beating men like Stapulionis if I want to be boxing for a world title.

"It's fantastic to be on such a massive show, it's a huge event that's being broadcast all over the globe and I want to put out a big statement to all the middleweights on the world scene that I'm coming for them.

"I've had a great training camp and I'm 100 per cent prepared for anything this guy has to offer. It's my time to shine."