O’Meara, 16-2 (5), faces Liam Smith at London’s Excel Arena and while McDonnell respects the Liverpudlian, he is positive that his charge will continue his run of good form.

Smith, who holds the Commonwealth title that he won against Steve O’Meara last December, is eager to add the Lonsdale belt vacated by Brian Rose, with purse bids for the Ochieng fight to be held ...