Tuesday 26 July 2016 12:39, UK
Josh Warrington is ready to show he can mix it with the best featherweight boxers and ensure he gets a world title shot soon.
The Leeds favourite takes on former world title challenger Patrick Hyland on Saturday, topping a packed bill at the First Direct Arena, live on Sky Sports.
Warrington (23-0-KO4) had been linked with IBF world champion Lee Selby but with his WBC International title on the line, he believes an impressive performance will present more opportunities.
The 25-year-old expects WBC holder Gary Russell Jr to move up a division in pursuit of a Vasyl Lomachenko rematch, and with Oscar Valdez (WBO) and Jesus Cuellar (WBA World) recently crowned champions and Leo Santa Cruz (WBA Super) defending against Carl Frampton on Saturday, the featherweight landscape will change again.
"I am highly ranked by the WBC at the moment but the division is one of the hardest out there - yet it is still wide open," Warrington told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview.
"Lomachenko has moved up, Oscar Valdez just took the WBO title so there are options there. Gary Russell Jr is rumoured to be stepping up as well looking for that rematch with Loma, but there's still Selby, and of course Santa Cruz or Frampton.
"There are plenty of routes but I need to show I am ready to be part of that elite, because I know I am. I want to be consistent, I just don't want to just go in there and scrape a win, I want to put on a show and do it in style.
"It's not going to be an easy task but I can do it and I will show them I am more than capable of mixing with world level."
Warrington is expecting the experienced Hyland to be another tough test on the back of his April success over another world title challenger in Hisashi Amagasa, who pushed Guillermo Rigondeaux to 11 rounds in 2014.
But the 'Leeds Warrior' wants to improve on his Amagasa performance and believes Saturday night could propel him even closer to a world title challenge of his own.
"I want to be consistent," he added. "I had a good win over Hisashi Amagasa a couple of months ago and now I want to show them I am world level.
"Hyland has challenged for a world title and an interim and he has fought some good names, he's tough and he has fought some big names, so he is experienced.
"He's been training out in America before and I think he's been sparring out there so that teaches you so much and the one thing I do know is, he's a big featherweight.
"Hyland can bring plenty of cards to the table and I have had to take on on-board in training and this is certainly no walkover. He's as tough as Amagasa."
Watch Warrington v Hyland live on Sky Sports 1 from 8.30pm on Saturday night.
