O’Meara to fight for Commonwealth title

Steve O’Meara will fight for the Commonwealth light-middleweight title at the ExCel London on 15 December.

He will face unbeaten Liverpudlian Liam Smith for the currently vacant championship on the same bill as George Groves’ Commonwealth super-middleweight title defence against former world champion Glen Johnson.

O’Meara, who was born in Shepherd’s Bush and lives in West Drayton, has won his last three fights by knockout and has long been targeting a shot at a major title.

His opportunity comes after a proposed clash with Obadai Sai, who was and remains the mandatory challenger for the belt, was scrapped because the Ghanian has an injury.

“I’m really happy to be fighting for the Commonwealth title and that it’s an all British showdown between me and Smith,” he declared.

“I had agreed to fight Sai, but unfortunately he was injured, but if I come through I’ll defend against him in the new year.

“Beating Smith, who was a top amateur and is now an unbeaten pro, will be a massive breakthrough for me.

“I’m not taking him lightly. It will be a great fight and I’ll do what I have to do to win, but with the way I’m punching at the moment and if I land clean, Smith will be out of there.”

Hammersmith’s Groves will be looking to continue his march towards a world title challenge, while Scottish lightweight Ricky Burns defends his world title on the bill.

But Smith believes his showdown with O’Meara will be the best of the lot.

Smith said: “This will be the fight of the night, no doubt about it, on what is already a cracking line-up of fights.

“O’Meara’s a good fighter, but I’m leagues above him and it will show on the night when I win the Commonwealth belt.

“I’ve been looking forward to getting my first opportunity to fight for a pro title and I’m not going to let it pass me by.”

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