This Saturday night, in Belfast, Ryan Burnett will be making the first defence of his IBF world bantamweight belt.
Twenty-five year-old Burnett won the IBF title when he defeated Bristol?s Lee Haskins, by a wide points margin, at the SSE Arena, in June.
But Burnett?s first defence isn?t just a defence, it is also a unification fight with the Irishman taking on Zhanat Zhakiyanov for his WBA belt.
The fight is the first unification fight ever to take place in Ireland.
Talking about his opponent, Burnett has remarked,
‘He’s an experienced champion but inside the ring I couldn’t care less about him.
‘If I can I will hurt him badly – that’s what I hope to do.’
Like Burnett used to be, before leaving the camp, Zhakiyanov, is trained by Ricky Hatton, adding some extra spice to the fight.
Talking to the media about headlining the card, Burnett has enthused,
‘Four years ago I was here doing a public workout when I was on the undercard.
‘Now I’m here doing it myself for a massive fight – I feel very blessed.
‘I can’t wait to experience it on Saturday night. To feel those feelings of a wall of sound, it’s something I’m really looking forward to.’
It has the makings of a cracking fight.
Burnett v Zhakiyanov Saturday in Belfast
