European super-bantamweight champion Liam Davies said he is preparing for the “biggest fight of my life” as he attempts to win a version of the world title in Birmingham on Saturday.
Davies takes on Mexico’s Erik Robles Ayala for the IBO title in his latest step towards a potential showdown with undisputed champion Naoya Inoue.
Japan’s Inoue holds all four of the major governing bodies’ belts – the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO.
Davies, 27, is unbeaten in 15 fights.
The Telford boxer beat Italy’s Vincenzo La Femina in November in the second successful defence of his European crown to set up the shot at Ayala’s International Boxing Organisation title.
“He’s a very good boxer,” Davies told BBC Radio Shropshire.
“He’s 23, he’s full of ambition himself, just like me, so I expect a tough night. He’s been sparring the pound for pound champion Inoue so he’s gonna be full of confidence.”
Ayala has lost once in his 15-fight professional career but has won his last nine bouts and returns to the UK for the first time since winning the IBO title in July last year, when he unanimously out-pointed Scotland’s Lee McGregor in Edinburgh.
“The last time he came to these shores he picked up a good win but it’s up to me to make sure that this time’s different and I’m going to,” Davies said.
“I’ve been training hard, I’ve put myself through it and I can’t see how anyone would want it more than myself.”
Davies said it was “crazy” to think about what he has achieved so far in his career but hopes his success will inspire others from the region to do the same.
