O’Toole vows: I can be a world champ!

O’Toole dominates Vaida Masiokaite. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB Promotion

MIDLANDS featherweight champ Sian O’Toole has a steely belief she will one day be crowned a world champion.

But first, there is business to attend to on the home front, with a defence of her area belt against Northampton's Doina Costin seemingly next on the agenda.

And never mind the world, O’Toole is in a division where mouth-watering match-ups loom on the local scene.

Bouts with either Tori-Ellis Willetts or English champ Jess Barry would be a bonanza for West Midlands fans.

On BCB’s show at Dudley Town Hall last night (Friday), the 25-year-old prepared for much bigger things – and shed ring-rust gathered during a near 10 month ring absence – by soundly outpointing experienced Vaida Masiokaite.

It was a re-run for Droitwich’s O’Toole. She outpointed the tough Lithuanian a year ago over four rounds and dominated in registering the double, referee Ryan Churchill scoring a 40-36 whitewash.

Masiokaite, a 37-year-old veteran with 45 bouts under her belt, was game and tried to bridge the gap. She simply lacked the skill, speed and reflexes to trouble O’Toole. She cuffed and swiped and mostly missed.

Sian’s razor-sharp boxing behind a lightning jab was a joy to watch. She sometimes got sucked into messy exchanges, but, for the most part, peppered Masiokaite with long shots.

In  the third, her boxing on the back foot was spot on. O’Toole (9st 9lbs), with partner Frankie Gavin in her corner, retreated as her opponent bundled forward, slipped shots effortlessly, then planted precise counters.

It was textbook stuff.

She set the template for the fight in the first by spearing Masiokaite (9st 12lbs) with jabs. In the second Sian showed neat footwork to avoid the visitor’s rushes and picked her shots in the fourth as Masiokaite attempted a late rally.

“It’s nice to be moving forward again,” Sian said afterwards. “I’ve been out longer than expected, but what will be, will be.”

Now unbeaten in six, she confirmed a planned Midlands title defence is on the horizon, adding: “I need a 10 rounder. It’s all part of becoming a world champion. I can be a world champion.”