LUKE Watkins cannot afford any slip-ups on April 8 if he is to fight for the Irish title this summer, according to his trainer and manager Paddy Fitzpatrick.

The undefeated cruiserweight acts as chief support to Ryan Martin’s WBC Youth world welterweight title fight against Michael McKinson at the Oasis Leisure Centre next month in a 10-round contest.

And with the 200lb division also opening up in Britain, with the British title vacant, Fitzpatrick says that 27-year-old Watkins has to improve his record to 10 wins from as many fights in five weeks’ time.

“Duke (Watkins) is fighting for the Irish title next, so he can’t lose on the Risky Business show,” Fitzpatrick said.

“We could have looked to have a comfortable fight for Duke, but that is not what Trifecta (Boxing) is about.

“We want to put on a show that when you look at the card, you can’t predict who is going to win.

“That is why we wanted Henry Smith for Duke. Henry wanted it as he announced the fight on Facebook, but suddenly, I get a call from his manager Chris Sanigar, who also agreed to it, to say that it is not happening.

“We have got five-and-a-half weeks, so there is plenty of time to find him a good opponent.”

Fitzpatrick also refused to rule out a return for Eamonn O’Kane in the near future but said that the 34-year-old would not be appearing on the Oasis card next month.

The Irish world middleweight contender hung up his gloves in April last year. However, the former IBF inter-continental champion has been listed as a Trifecta fighter, despite the company only being formed in January this year.

“You can never say never,” the Ferndale Road-based trainer said of a possible O’Kane return.

The Irishman also said that Trifecta approached Penhill’s Kelvin Young to face the returning David Bailey, but with Young on a three-fight promotional deal with Neilson Boxing, the offer was rebuffed.

“We offered Kelvin the chance to fight David Bailey on our show but were told that they are looking to rebuild Kelvin. That’s cool, but surely then you don’t have that fighter headlining a show,” Fitzpatrick said.

Bristol light-heavyweight Bailey added: “Before I stopped boxing last year, Kelvin mentioned my name as possible opponent.

“I wasn’t boxing then, but now I’m back and if he still wants the fight, all he has to do is say.”

Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick said that Trifecta are looking for a singer to perform the British and Irish national anthems ahead of Martin’s title fight.

For more information on tickets for the 'Risky Business' show, visit www.trifectaboxing.com or call 01793 337725.