GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor

O'neil Bell - Contributed

Jamaican-born former world cruiserweight boxing champion O'neil Bell is hoping to give his countrymen a close-up look at his ring skills soon.

The power-punching Bell, who migrated to the United States from his hometown of Montego Bay at age six, said he had accepted an offer from the International Boxing Federation (IBF) to fight Poland's Tomasz Adamek in an IBF title elimination bout and will be pushing for the fight to be staged in Jamaica.

"I want to fight in Jamaica," Bell, also known as 'Supernova', said yesterday, "That's my top goal."

Bell, who is currently listed at fifth in the IBF rankings, began training for the Adamek fight this week. He is hoping to regain career momentum he lost following a defeat by Frenchman Jean Marc Mormeck in March 2007. That cost him the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) crowns in the 190-200 pound weight division.

Mormeck subsequently lost both titles to Great Britain's David Haye in November, but Bell is not sure whether or when he will get a shot at Haye, although he claimed promoters had given him verbal assurance that he would. Haye is believed to be considering a step up in class to the more lucrative heavyweight division.

PIVOTAL

The fight with Adamek is pivotal to Bell's career. A win would put the Jamaican in line for a crack at the IBF cruiserweight crown currently held by American Steve Cunningham, who, ironically, first got hold of the title after Bell, due to what he described as medical problems, failed to defend the title against Cunningham and was stripped of the belt in 2006.

"It (Adamek fight) will be most important," Bell said. "I have been out of the limelight since March 2007. It is very important for me to re-establish myself."

Now Bell, who has long been frustrated by the lukewarm support for his career offered by America's boxing fans, which some boxing experts have attributed to his continuous loyalty to Jamaica, is hoping he can finally earn his countrymen''s backing. He wants to give them the opportunity.

"It (the Adamek) fight could be in Jamaica if the people there express interest in it," said the 33-year-old, who holds a ring record of 26 wins, with 24 knockouts, two losses and a draw.

Based on the IBF's correspondence, according to Bell, he and his promoters have 90 days after January 5 to stage the title eliminator. If the promoters cannot find a suitable location for the fight, Bell may be forced to fight Adamek in Poland or somewhere in the U.S. where there is large Polish support, such as Chicago. He would prefer 'yard''.

"That's my primary interest," Bell explained, "to generate my fan base."

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.