Tonight in Dublin, Ireland, popular domestic prospect Bernard Dunne steps up in class to faces former European, Commonwealth and British Super Bantamweight Champion Esham Pickering for the vacant European title.

For Dunne, 21-0 (13), this marks his litmus test at continental level after the Dublin man started the first three years of his career in America, ending with a difficult bout against Mexico's Adrian Valdez that Dunne was lucky to escape with a victory in 2004.

Since then the tall 26 year old has won seven straight contests, including a sixth round stoppage in January over ex-European Bantamweight titlist Noel Wilders.

In Esham "Brown Sugar" Pickering, 29-4 (11), Dunne will face by far his most experienced foe. The 30 year old from Newark, England has taken part in eight title fights, losing an early WBO title fight at Bantam in 2000 but subsequently winning European, Commonwealth and British title bouts at super bantam until losing his European crown to Michael Hunter by narrow majority decision a year ago.

If Dunne is truly ready to take the next step and graduate to compete at world level, he'll handle Pickering and move on. But, there are several factors that may make this a bridge to far for the Irishman.

Pickering, a trainee of the Sheffield based Ingle Camp, is a truly difficult man to fight, slippery, experienced and steel tough. Additionally, the Northern man will have his back to the wall as this will likely be his last chance to regain top European status and have the chance to campaign at world level.

Dunne may be the more skilled man in this contest but he will need to have the bigger heart if he is to turn back Esham Pickering.

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