Eamonn O'Kane wins to boost world title prospects

Eamonn O'Kane was Northern Ireland's boxing captain at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi

Eamonn O'Kane boosted his hopes of getting a crack at the IBF middleweight world title by beating Derbyshire's Lewis Taylor on Saturday night.

O'Kane, 33, took the contest in Lavey, Co Londonderry, on points to retain his Inter-Continental belt.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist won on two of the scorecards with the other judge viewing the 12-round bout as a 114-114 draw.

It was a first defeat for Taylor, 25, in his 18th professional contest.