PADDY Fitzpatrick is hoping that the temptation of a top-10 world ranking with the IBF will tempt Nick Blackwell into the ring to put his British crown on the line against Eamonn O’Kane.

The Irishman, who trains O’Kane, says that he has contacted the Trowbridge man’s promoter Mick Hennessy about a potential clash at the Oasis Leisure Centre on March 5.

Blackwell, who successfully defended his title on Saturday with a unanimous points success over Jack Arnfield, is one fight away from retaining the Lonsdale belt outright.

The British Boxing Board of Control have made Chris Eubank Jr mandatory for Bang Bang’s belt.

However, it is unlikely that the Brighton man will want to step back to domestic level as he faces Gary O’Sullivan next month in a WBA world title final eliminator on December 12.

“I think Santa Claus will show up in the gym before Eubank will take that fight,” the Ferndale Road-based trainer said.

“He didn’t take it twice before. Since then, he has fought (Billy Joe) Saunders and now he is fighting for mandatory position in the WBA.

“Nick needs another defence to keep that belt. There is no reason why Eamonn cannot be cleared for that.

“He is two below Nick in the (Boxing Monthly) British rankings. You have Nick, John Ryder and then Eamonn.

“Nick has beaten John Ryder, the next one down is Eamonn - it makes sense for both men.

“It is fight that Nick Blackwell tweeted ‘great fight’ - he likes the idea of it too.”

Fitzpatrick has already booked the Oasis in Swindon for March 5 after getting clearance from the IBF for O’Kane to make a defence of his inter-continental belt but is yet to secure an opponent.

And while O’Kane will go into that contest after losing to Tureano Johnson at Madison Square Garden to become the IBF’s number one middleweight contender, the Northern Irishman has retained his place in the top 10 of governing body’s rankings.

“Nick has the opportunity to keep his Lonsdale belt and also to take Eamonn’s top-10 world ranking,” Fitzpatrick added.

“It is a fight that makes sense. We have got a date, we have a number eight ranking in the world and we have an inter-continental title fight.

“Eamonn is up for it, Nick is up for it; I have put in a call to Mick Hennessy and there is no reason why he won’t be up for it.

“If he has something better planned - not a problem.”