Rising star Keane targets Olympics
Walsall's Christopher Keane is hoping his heavyweight star rises all the way to the boxing arena of London in the 2012 Olympic Games.
The talented amateur from Pleck Boxing Club in his hometown has set his sights on a gold medal, after conquering all before him in the unpaid ranks.
He has already been crowned a national champion, with a stunning second-round knockout of Darrell Gardener in Sheffield last month at the Amateur Boxing Association finals - regarded by many as a vital stop on the road to 2012.
The 22-year-old topped that 12 days ago by winning the three nations tournament in Liverpool, outpointing Wadi Camacho in an all-England final.
Now Keane is plotting the Italian Job, glory in Milan at the world amateur championships in September.
He said: "I am very confident in my own ability, I know I have the tools to do very well in such a tough tournament.
"The Olympics are three years away, I will be 25 then and if I do well in London I could become a superstar overnight. Getting myself there won't be easy, competition is fierce, but if I keep focussed and work hard I have a good chance.
"Seeing what the likes of Frankie Gavin and James DeGale have done shows what reward success can bring."
Should Keane go all the way in Italy, it would be only the second time an English boxer had won a world amateur title, after Birmingham lightweight Gavin broke the duck in Chicago two years ago.
DeGale became a sensation after becoming an Olympic gold medalist in Beijing last year, earning the pair substantial contracts to turn professional this year.
With the heavyweight division currently at it's lowest ebb for eons, success for the Pleck prospect on all desired battle-grounds could see his profile skyrocket.
Keane makes no secret that his future is in the pro game, but feels there is much more to achieve as an amateur first.
He said: "That is why people get into the game, to turn professional and become a world champion. It's every young fighter's dream and I am no different.
"I grew up watching the great heavyweights like Frank Bruno, who was an idol of mine, and Lennox Lewis.
"If I could make it to that sort of stage in the future, I would be more than pleased."
