Monkstown light-heavyweight Steven Ward insists he is up for the fight as he maps out his future in a "red-hot" domestic scene.
The unbeaten Ward (10-0, 3 KOs) returns to the ring this Friday night at York Hall when he takes on experienced Arturs Kulikauskis.
It is a quick reappearance for 'The Quiet Man' following his impressive points win over Josip Perkovic at the Ulster Hall last month.
Ward is wanting to move quickly in the light-heavyweight scene, and believes he is ready to make the step up in the division.
Last month, Ward’s MTK Global team-mate Liam Conroy challenged Olympian Joshua Buatsi for the Lonsdale belt.
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The 175lb division also includes the likes of Hosea Burton, Anthony Yarde, Craig Richards and Callum Johnson, and Ward is keen to play a significant role.
“It’s a red-hot domestic scene which is good for all of us light-heavyweights because it gets people talking about our division," he said.
“There are lots of opportunities and that can only be great for me because you want to be fighting the best, at the end of the day.
“As far as British title level goes, I’ll fight anyone. I want to keep climbing and I’m enjoying the challenges I’m being faced with.
“I feel I’m getting myself up there and now I have the team and the ability to get there so it’s just about me going out there and putting it into practice.
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“To map out the rest of 2019 would just ideally be to keep enjoying it. I’d love to pick up another belt this year and be right up there in the domestic scene.
“I’m always looking to earn my stripes but the main thing is to enjoy 2019 as much as I enjoyed 2018.”
Joining Ward on Friday’s card is his new gym-mate and IBO world champion Chantelle Cameron plus the likes of unbeaten Londoner Dan Azeez, talented Kazakhs Viktor Kotochigov and Nurtas Azhbenov and many more.
