Unbeaten Hartlepool prospect Michael Hunter faces a difficult looking assignment when he boxes in Belfast on Saturday night.
The North-East super-bantamweight squares off against seasoned Russian Nikolai Eremeev at the Ulster Hall in a match that will act as chief support to the main event between Brian Magee v Omar Gonzalez.
Eremeev, who has boxed for the WBO Intercontinental Featherweight title and the WBU lightweight crown as a pro, is infinitely more experienced than the Hartlepool man and should go into the bout with a considerable weight advantage.
The Russian has been in with world class boxers such as Philip 'The Time Bomb' Ndou (who faces Floyd Mayweather next month), Alex Arthur and Wayne McCullough.
He is 20-8 as a pro and his record suggests he only loses to the very best.
He dropped a decision to current British lightweight champion Graham Earl in Bethnal Green last time out, weighing 134 lbs for that contest.
Hunter, a natural super-bantam and unbeaten in 16 as a pro, is coming off one of the best wins of his fledgling career after stopping the dangerous Rocky Dean in two rounds in Plymouth back in July.
The former double ABA amateur champion and current WBF super-bantamweight king is under no illusions about the task facing him.
Hunter said of his foe: "He (Eremeev) is not coming to make up the numbers and I know that if I am not at my best I could face major problems.
"He has been in with some top lads in N'Dou, Arthur and McCullough, so is clearly no mug.
"My promoters (Ringside) struggled to get me matched and so I am just glad to be boxing at all to be honest with you.
"I have quite a few lads coming over (from England) for the fight and just want to put on a good show for them, Sky and the Irish public."
When asked about his future plans Hunter admitted:
"I am not looking past this fight to tell you the truth but my main aim is a showdown with British and Commonwealth super-bantamweight champion Esham Pickering.
"I have seen quite a bit of Esham and he has impressed me with his movement and power.
"Saying that, I realy do believe that I am the best in the country at the weight and am losing no sleep at the prospect of facing any of them.
"Hopefully we can get together and get that fight on either later this year or early next.
"I feel in great shape at the moment and would relish finding out just how good Mr Pickering really is."
Michael Hunter fights on the Magee Belfast bill
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Riddick Bowie
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