Tureano Johnson Promises Fight with O’Kane Will Keep Pace with Main Event

Aside from the main event, a couple of other middleweights have something to prove Saturday night, when Tureano Johnson of the Bahamas and Eamonn O’Kane of Ireland meet in the ring.

Upward mobility on the middleweight ladder is at stake for Johnson (18-1, 13 Kos) when he fights O’Kane (14-1-1, 5 Kos) Oct. 17, at Madison Square Garden.

It will be shown on HBO pay-per-view.

“I’m beyond overwhelmed to be a part of it,” said Johnson of fighting on the same card as world champions David Lemieux and Gennady Golovkin. “Before I’m a boxer, I am a fan. I believe you cannot blink your eyes for that fight. You’re going to get pure action.”

In fact, says Johnson, expect total action when he fights the Irishman O’Kane.

“I’m going to bring action and activity out of my fight, I assure you,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s boxing record suggests he’s not shy about meeting any middleweight in the boxing ring. Now 31, he knows chasing the middleweight world title demands immediate action.

“Thank God to give me the patience to be on the same card. Now the time has paid off and my dues have been paid for,” said Johnson, who trains in Washington D.C.

In his last fight Johnson defeated highly touted Colombian southpaw Alex Theran. The fight ended in a knockout after Johnson delivered Theran to the canvas twice before the bout was stopped in the fifth round. It took place at Madison Square Garden Theater last January. Johnson acquired the WBA International middleweight title.

Now, don’t expect O’Kane to go down easily or at all.

The Irish redhead from Banagher, Ireland is a head-first kind of slugger who likes to dig in the inside. This is his first trip to U.S. shores and fighting on a major card like this could bring out the fury in O’Kane.

Johnson expects O’Kane to be as tough as most Irish fighters tend to be.

“But if he can throw it, I can take it,” Johnson says. “I can’t say I’m one of the most technical fighters, or hardest punchers, but my heart will just keep going.”

It’s a 12-round fight for Johnson’s title.

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