EAMONN O’Kane says that trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick has given him a new lease of life.

The Northern Irishman headlines at the Swindon Oasis Leisure Centre on Friday on the ‘World Awaits’ bill when faces Ferenc Hafner.

And the 32-year-old knows that he cannot to slip up in his first outing since joining forces with Ferndale Road-based trainer Fitzpatrick as there is a potential world title shot on the horizon.

O’Kane, a 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, is ranked eighth in the world at middleweight by the IBF.

King Kane, who has only tasted defeat in the pro ranks once against John Ryder, is the current IBF inter-continental title holder and with the status future of world champion Jermain Taylor up air due to his misdemeanours outside the ring, 2015 could be a big year.

But the last time O’Kane was in action, his fight with Virgilijus Stapulionis was stopped in the fourth round due to a cut to the Lithuanian and declared a technical draw.

And since that contest in September, O’Kane says that he fighting style has changed thanks to his link up with Fitzpatrick.

“He has completely re-jigged my boxing and train of thought,” O’Kane said.

“It was pretty obvious what my game plan was before – go, go, go, fight, fight, fight.

“Don’t get me wrong, there will be times that I will have to go and I will have to fight, but it is smart work. That is the ethos of the gym.

“Everything is dedicated to where my stance is, to where my position in the ring, to how you react and how you behave.

“It is fantastic. It is a breath of fresh air. It is great to have that constructive plan.

“I really hope that I do it as good as he wants me to do it because I know if I do that, then it will be a sensational night.”

Joining O’Kane on the ‘World Awaits bill’ are stablemates Luke Watkins, who faces Jeno Markhot over eight rounds, and Garvey Kelly, who tackles Exeter’s Faheem Khan over six.

Kelvin Young, Tariq Quaddus, Ryan Martin and Danny Bharj will also be action next week.