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O’Connell continues climb towards title shot

Cam O’Connell has had four fights since his return to the ring last year and won them all.Carrying a 10-0-1 record into his upcoming bout on June 17, his coach, Doug Bolianatz, said it’s time title holders in Canada started taking the undefeated Red Deer lightweight native seriously.

Cam O’Connell has had four fights since his return to the ring last year and won them all.

Carrying a 10-0-1 record into his upcoming bout on June 17, his coach, Doug Bolianatz, said it’s time title holders in Canada started taking the undefeated Red Deer lightweight native seriously.

“Nobody wants to fight him,” said Bolianatz.

“Nobody wants to risk their undefeated record or their title. They know Cam from the amateur (circuit) and they know he’s a good athlete.

“His opponents are getting tougher so the progression is good. We’re right on track and hopefully we get a Canadian title shot somewhere in the near future.”

This time the 27-year-old goes toe-to-toe with Bence Molnar, a Hungarian 20-year-old with a 16-7-0 record. The fight is part of K.O. 75, put on by K.O. Boxing Canada on June 17. The fight starts at 7:15 p.m. at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton.

Training and sparring in the lead up, Bolianatz has used another fighter, Mike McWilliams, to help O’Connell prepare. McWilliams and Molnar have similar body types and fighting styles.

“We’re doing a little different sparring this time because we’re trying to emulate this next opponent,” said Bolianatz. “(Molnar) is a guy who likes to come forward and throw a lot of punches. He’s an outside boxer type, tall and thin so he’s going to use his jab from the outside.

“McWilliams has the same type of style. Cam’s looking good, we had a good sparring session last night going six hard rounds. He’s where we want him to be.”

After almost a year away from the the ring, O’Connell rattled off four straight wins over three tough Mexican fighters and a boxer from Hungary. Against Cecilio Santos, Randy Lozano and Mario Perez, O’Connell won unanimous decisions. Against the Hungarian Csaba Toth, O’Connell won by technical knockout.

O’Connell served nine months in the Bowden institute for a drug trafficking conviction starting in March 2014.

Though he hasn’t got a title shot yet, Bolianatz seems convinced that O’Connell will get to be the challenger.

“Somebody is going to want to pay to see that fight and that’s going to dictate it,” said Bolianatz.

“Not only the purse, but the actual fight is going to be attractive to a promoter.”

Tickets to the June 17 fight can be purchased through Ticketmaster and cost $68.25.