Saturday 21 October 2017 21:12, UK
Ryan Burnett and Zhanat Zhakiyanov both put their bantamweight world titles on the line this Saturday night at Belfast's SSE Arena, live on Sky Sports.
Hometown hero Burnett will hope that this next leap of faith, in just his 18th fight, will pay dividends on Saturday night, but the decision to make his first IBF world title defence against the tough, gritty Kazakh 'ZZ', the division's WBA' Super' champion, could prove costly.
It has been a monumental rise for the 25-year-old who, under the bonding tutelage of Adam Booth, expertly dispatched Lee Haskins back in June, albeit with a bizarre scorecard scare to succeed the contest.
Now though, with one dream achieved, thoughts turn to bigger and better things, and Burnett must encounter the formidable, come-forward, determined style of the 33-year-old Zhakiyanov, an armoury miles apart from the awkward, slippery one that the Northern Irishman faced with Haskins.
'ZZ' climbed off the canvas twice to drag acclaimed American Rau'shee Warren into a punishing dogfight before taking the WBA belt on a split-decision victory last time out and the Kazakh has just one blemish on his near-perfect 28-fight record, an early career loss in Russia.
The two have sparred before and with that comes a rivalry. Add trainer Ricky Hatton into the mix, the man who introduced Burnett into the paid ranks and who will now be looking to mastermind the home favourite's downfall, and the scene is set for a fiery night in Belfast.
I've spent one month in Kazakhstan and two months in England, we've trained well and I am ready.
This is a brilliant fight. Zhakiyanov comes to fight and I have no doubt this is going to be a tough night for Burnett. Ryan has the better boxing brain and I think that will be crucial. It will be a tough, tough fight, but Burnett will win on points.
Zhakiyanov is a typical Eastern European fighter if you like, and he is rough and tough, but I just thing Burnett will have too much of everything. If he stops him, I will be very, very surprised, so points.
It will be a bit of a chess match at first for Burnett and then I can see him taking over from about round four onwards. I do expect a response from Zhakiyanov, but I think Burnett's pace will take that late assault away from him. I expect a convincing points win for Burnett.
Ryan Burnett: 8st 5lb 6oz
Zhanat Zhakiyanov: 8st 5lb 4oz
Watch Ryan Burnett's unification clash with Zhanat Zhakiyanov, along with Paul Hyland Jr against Stephen Ormond, James Tennyson versus Darren Traynor, with Josh Kelly and Anthony Fowler also on the Belfast bill from 7.30pm this Saturday on Sky Sports Main Event.
