Kal Yafai hopes victory over Everth Briceno will propel him towards a world title shot in 2015
Thursday 13 November 2014 17:08, UK
Kal Yafai is targeting a world title shot in 2015, but firstly must overcome his toughest test against Everth Briceno.
The 25-year-old super-flyweight puts his unbeaten record on the line against the Nicaraguan in Dublin on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
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A 13th straight win for Yafai will propel him further up the rankings, but he is not expecting an easy night against Briceno, a former world title challenger.
The 36-year-old dropped points defeats against Fernando Montiel and Omar Andres Narvaez, while he also extended Leo Santa Cruz in a late stoppage defeat.
But the Birmingham man has to handle this step-up in class if he wants to remain on course for major honours.
“I am moving in the right direction,” said Yafai. “It is still early in my career so there is no need for me to rush anything, but when I get opportunities I will grasp them with both hands.
“I would like to win a world title towards the end of next year, it would be ideal. If I can stay injury free and get the wins then I don’t see why that can’t happen and there are some huge fights out there for me next year where I can really break out into the big time.
I am expecting a really tough fight on Saturday. I am expecting it to be my toughest yet.
“I am expecting a really tough fight on Saturday. I am expecting it to be my toughest yet. The guy is big and experienced and has boxed for a world title on three occasions.
"He went to points on two of those occasions and got stopped in the 11th by Leo Santa Cruz, who is a brilliant fighter. So I am expecting a tough, tough night’s work.”
At the top of the bill, Matthew Macklin can line up a third world title shot if he defeats Jorge Sebastian Heiland in an eliminator for the WBC belt.
Middleweight rivals Anthony Fitzgerald and Spike O’Sullivan will settle a feud which threatened to spill over at a fiery press-conference, while lightweight Anthony Crolla cannot afford a slip-up as he pursues a big-name fight.
Former amateur star John Joe Nevin, Patrick Hyland and Sam Eggington are also in action on a packed undercard.
