With three fights in quick succession following his 2012 debut big things were expected of Horden super middleweight, Greg O’Neil, then he went off the boil, writes Peter Mann.

Two successive reverses in the interspersing three years has put O’Neil to the back of people’s minds – his last outing was a six rounder against Anthony Ogogo in March 2014, losing 60-54 in Glasgow.

Title opportunities however do not come along all that often so, when Steve Wraith’s inaugural ‘Summer Showdown I’ was delayed a month due to injuries and withdrawals, a glint of gold appeared on the horizon, and O’Neil was happy to take it.

At super middleweight the vacant area strap has not been contested since 2004 when Scotland’s Ryan Kerr stopped Cumbria’s Gary Dixon in seven. O’Neil faces a Geordie challenge if he’s to follow in Kerr’s footsteps though when he goes in against West Denton’s Andrew Buchanan.

O’Neil’s manager-trainer, Peter Cope Snr said: “The contest is a one of power and youth versus ability and experience. People will be looking forward to seeing two completely different styles and, although we know that (Andrew) Buchanan is the favourite, I can’t see this going the distance.”

The amateur experience brought by both fighters, at international level as well, shows that the two have astounding ability – O’Neil also won the Tri-Nations as an amateur and Cope Snr knows both fighters inside out having trained Buchanan at Gus Robinson’s back in the day.

“He (Greg) has trained really hard for this and he’s definitely going into this fight the fittest, and fastest, I’ve ever seen him,” continued Cope.

“We know Andy here though and yes, he can punch, just not as much as Greg can so, either way, there will be a stoppage and I believe Greg has definitely got the ability to out power him. Greg himself has been with us for about three or four years now and it’s definitely a case of what you see is what you get with him.

“He’s not a one for four or six-rounders and needs the challenge that this will bring so, with the talent we have in our gym (Peter and Daniel Cope, Anthony Hardy and Liam Cammock), and the fact that he went the distance with someone like Ogogo, then if Greg gets into this early on, we’ll see.”

Opportunities lead to opportunities though and, as was the case with son Peter over the past 12 months, what happens here will open up more doors.

“There are other chances after this fight as well,” stated Cope Snr. “Greg hits super middleweight quite easily though and we know that this fight, now, against Buchanan, is the priority. Then we’ll look at other options.”

Buchanan meanwhile has been on a rollercoaster since he returned to fight game in 2013. Unbeaten in six contests, and claiming the International Masters in December 2013, ‘el cannon’ is in sort of a last chance saloon.

At 35 he is 12 years older than his opponent and time is not on his side. The fight with O’Neil could well turn out to be similar to that which Buchanan endured against Jonson McClumpha at the Stadium of Light two years ago.

“I know that my whole career is on the line with every fight now,” began Buchanan.

“But I keep comparing myself to a fine wine and saying that I am getting better with age. Other fighters have time on their side, to learn, to comeback from losses should they have them; I don’t really have much of that so I need to go in there and do what I know I can do, what Ron (Rowe) and Gary (Barr) have trained me to do and then look at moving forwards.

“I want to get to the highest level possible for me, now, and I’ve got to win this title to be able to do so.”

The duo will be ably supported come Friday night with Anthony Nelson having a warm-up for a possible Commonwealth title defence when he opposes Ian Halsall; Lewis Scott gets a chance at redemption against Simone Lucas, and Thirsk heavyweight, Jone Taukeinikoro will make his professional debut.

Tickets for the ‘Summer Showdown I’ are available from the Relentless Promotions Box Office http://relentlesspromotions.co.uk/box-office/ or from all fighters on the show priced at £35. Doors open from 6pm and the first bout will be at approx. 7.30pm – after party at the Grosvenor Casino.