
Titanic Showdown undercard round-up: Conlan, O’Kane, Cacace

Photograph: Russell Pritchard
Jamie Conlan finally got a title belt around his waist following a seventh-round stoppage victory over durable Belgian Benjamin Smoes on Friday, April 4. Conlan’s bout was increased to a 12-round affair which will work in his favour whenever a case is made for British or Commonwealth title shots.
Photograph: Russell Pritchard/Cyclone Promotions
Carl Frampton moved one step closer to a world title shot by stopping former two-time world champion Hugo Cazares in the second round. Entering the ring to the raucous atmosphere he has become accustomed to, Frampton was out to rubberstamp his credentials and prove that he belongs in the ring with the likes of WBC world champion Leo Santa Cruz.
Photograph: Matchroom Boxing
Eamonn O’Kane has a big opportunity to cement his place in the WBC rankings on Friday night when he tackles Mexico’s Alvaro Gaona for the WBC’s vacant International Silver title. ‘King Kane’ has been working hard with Bernardo Checa in training and is anxious to impress.
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.
©Russell Pritchard/Cyclone Promotions
The huge April 4 Odyssey show is sold out and a thrilled Barry McGuigan is expecting plenty of quality bouts to keep an enthusiastic Belfast crowd entertained. The various governing bodies have been contacted and title fights approved. Jamie Conlan will face Benjamin Smoes for the WBO European super-flyweight belt while Eamonn O’Kane will hope to curry favour with the WBC as he tackles Mexico’s Alvaro Gaona for the organisation’s vacant International Silver middleweight title. Four bouts on the night will have belts on the line and if all goes to plan there could be some smaller hall shows planned later in the year for the new breed to flex their muscles on.