O’Meara tipped for title glory in 2012

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Steve O’Meara will win a major title in 2012, his trainer Jim McDonnell has predicted.

The 27-year-old light-middleweight might have challenged Obodai Sai for the Commonwealth crown had the Ghanaian succeeded with a recent appeal against a hugely controversial points decision that saw him lose the belt to Jamie Cox.

The Commonwealth Boxing Council, despite receiving a number of complaints about the verdict, ruled that the title should stay with Cox.

McDonnell feels O'Meara can take his career to another level.

And with British champion Prince Aaron having been nominated for a shot at the European title, O’Meara will have to bide his time.

O’Meara is therefore set for a first defence of the southern-area title he won with a stunning first-round knockout of fellow West Londoner Ryan Toms in September.

“We’ll let him off the leash and I think he’ll be champion next year, definitely,” McDonnell declared.

“There’s a future champion there in the making. The only thing that’s stopping him at the moment is [a lack of] experience.”

O’Meara is a stable-mate of Harlesden’s European super-middleweight champion James DeGale and has sparred with world champion Carl Froch and world title challenger Darren Barker – not to mention American superstar Floyd Mayweather.

McDonnell believes that experience will stand O’Meara in good stead and that a match with the hard-hitting 6ft 3in Aaron could be made in the new year.

He said: “Looking at the background we’ve given him – he’s sparred with Mayweather, Froch, Barker and DeGale – he’s been in deep and I know what he’s about.

“I wouldn’t fancy Aaron in a three-round fight, but over 12 rounds I would. What I want now is for Steve to have a 10-rounder as he’s only had one eight-rounder so far.”

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