Photograph: boxaldia.com
Alvaro Gaona has travelled a fair distance over to Belfast but the amiable 28-year-old insists that his flight will not be in vain come fight night. The Mexican visitor does not display a brash personality and politely declined when asked to make a prediction before his WBC International Silver title clash with Eamonn O’Kane on April 4.
“The training has been great and I am prepared to give the best effort that I can on fight night. I’m very excited and ready and grateful for the invitation and the welcome I’ve received here [in Belfast],” said Gaona.
The Tamaulipas native boasts a 13-3 (8 KOs) record and has fought some recognisable names since turning pro in 2005. The only problem is that in the past when he has stepped up in class Alvaro has generally been unable to cross the line and push on to that next level. Notable opponents like David Lemieux, Esau Herrera and Andrey Meryasev have all managed to get past Gaona. He says that this is of little concern to him right now and instead he is 100 per cent focused on O’Kane and has plenty of respect for his foe.
“I don’t want to say too much about my previous opponents because this is a very important fight so I just want to focus on O’Kane even though I have had a lot of big fights before,” he said through an interpreter.
“A victory would mean a lot to me for my career and until everyone is in the ring nobody will know how the fight will play out, but a win for me would boost my career.”
Check out the stunning ending in Gaona’s fight with David Lemieux: