WITH one war behind him and another looming at some stage in the future, Ryan Burnett defends his WBA bantamweight title against Yonfrez Parejo at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff tonight.
The Belfast bantam took the WBA belt off teak tough Khazak Zhanat Zhakiyanov in October and could be looking at a career-defining rumble with fearsome South African Zolani Tete next year.
But first he has to deal with mandatory challenger Parejo (21-2-1) and he cannot take the 31-year-old Venezuelan for granted because his only losses have come against Zhakiyanov (on points) and WBC super-bantamweight title challenger Hugo Ruiz.
Burnett v Parejo is part of a star-studded undercard to the Anthony Joshua versus Joseph Parker heavyweight unification clash and the former Belfast Kronk and Holy Family ABC fighter is looking forward to showing off his skills as the chief support.
"I’m all set, all the training is done, and I can't wait,” he said.
“It's a massive night for boxing. Every boxing fan around the world is going to be tuning in, so I feel very privileged to be a part of it and being so high up on the bill.
“I am a very focused individual. I know exactly what I have to do, so the stage isn't going to bother me at all.”
Parejo should be durable and difficult to shift tonight but Burnett has said that his style is perfectly suited to him. Big at the weight, Burnett’s workrate and punching power should prove too much for the Venezuelan and should see him hammer out an inside-the-distance win tonight.
Meanwhile, Joshua cut a lean figure on the scales as he weighed in nearly a stone lighter than his last fight for his unification showdown with Parker.
Joshua, the WBA and IBF king, tipped the scales at 17st 4lbs 2oz for Saturday's fight at the Principality Stadium - 6lbs heavier than New Zealand's WBO champion Parker.
The 28-year-old had shed 12lbs from his 18st 2lbs frame when stopping Carlos Takam in October, while Parker has lost 9lbs since outpointing Hughie Fury a month earlier.
"Taking that bit of weight off makes this fight a little easier," Joshua said.
"I feel better. Training is all about rehearsal and so is sparring, but it has gone well.
"You will see I will be a lot sharper, my reflexes will be sharper and my speed will be much sharper."
Parker (24-0) didn’t twitch – neither man did - in the final stare-down and it was clear there was huge mutual respect between the pair.
"He looked good, but I would expect that from a world champion," Joshua said.
"You will be in for a good, good fight (on Saturday) night, believe me."
Parker at 26, two years younger than Joshua, is unbeaten in 24 fights and remains confident of upsetting the odds.
"The first few rounds could go either way, depends who follows their game-plan better - I'm ready for anything," said the New Zealander.
"I'm here for war. You'll have to do everything to beat me."
