PADDY Fitzpatrick has branded a potential clash between his new charge Eamonn O’Kane and his old fighter Jamie Cox as ‘ridiculous’.

Swindon southpaw Cox’s trainer John Costello told the Advertiser last week that the 28-year-old would love to battle the Ulsterman, having made the move to middleweight.

But as Ferndale Road-trained O’Kane, who successfully defended his IBF inter-continental title at the weekend, moves closer to a world title shot, Fitzpatrick has no intention of giving Cox an opportunity.

“It is ridiculous,” said Fitzpatrick. “He (Cox) has only had two fights in the last four years against opponents with losing records - Eamonn is set to be ranked three in the world (by the IBF).

“To say that the fight would sell out Swindon - Jamie should be selling out Swindon on his own - Duke (Luke Watkins) and Garvey (Kelly) did that in their third and fourth fights.”

Cox returned to the UK at the weekend having spent more than a month in America sparring with the likes of Denis Douglin and Saul Alvarez.

And the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist is pencilled in for a 10-round fight at The Venue in Edgbaston on May 23.

Fitzpatrick added: “Jamie should be looking at someone like Nick Blackwell (who is fighting for the British title).

“We are looking at (WBO champion) Andy Lee - two Irishmen fighting for a world title.”

The Swindon trainer said that he is now looking to take O’Kane to America for his next outing.

“Eamonn picked up a nasty cut in his fight (against Lewis Taylor) and that is going to take around five to six weeks to heal up,” Fitzpatrick said.

“We’ve been talking to Gary Hyde, Hassan N’Dam’s manager, about a fight should he win the (IBF) world title.

“I think the next move is to take Eamonn to the east coast of America as Irish fighters go down well there.”