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Adam Etches insists his opponent this weekend will provide his toughest test to date.
The Sheffield middleweight meets Felipe De La Paz Teniente for the vacant WBC Youth crown at the Ponds Forge Arena and believes the Mexican will be far from a soft touch.
Etches, who has already won IBF Youth titles at different weights, found himself facing a similar task when he squared off with Brazil’s Alexandre Mendes last October, but he easily despatched the previously unbeaten South American inside of one round.
However, he feels Mexicans are made of sterner stuff and is sure it’ll be fight which will push him to his limit.
“I’m not expecting this to be an easy fight. It’s a big opportunity for him and he isn’t coming all the way over here to lose,” Etches, 15-0 (12 KOs), said. “He’s ranked higher than me, he’s only lost one, he’s had some tough fights and he’s already won over ten rounds so he’s certainly no push over.
“He looks like your typical Mexican boxer. He comes forward, puts everything into his punches and likes to have a war so I have to be ready for that. I think this is my toughest fight.
“That Brazilian kid I boxed on the Kell Brook bill was supposed to be my toughest. He had ten wins and nine knockouts so he was dangerous and I got him out in a round. I think this kid will be a lot better.”
With the domestic scene buzzing, Adam is expected to mix it with the likes of John Ryder and Chris Eubank Jnr in the next year, but he says he’s in no rush to chase the Lonsdale belt as he’s currently getting opportunities for titles which carry world rankings.
“A lot of people are asking me when I’m going to be fighting for the British title, but these fights are getting me up the ratings with world bodies,” he explained. “I will fight for the British at some point, but until then I’ll keep going and keep winning international titles.
“I’ve got two IBF belts, one at middleweight and super-middleweight, and now I’m fighting for the same thing but the WBC version so, touch wood, I’ll soon have three meaningful titles.”
This Saturday’s show is headlined by Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne’s vacant Commonwealth title clash with Canada’s Eric Martel Bahoeli with the main supporting contest being a European Bantamweight clash between Karim Guerfi and mandatory challenger Zhanat Zhakiyanov.
Also starring will be Ricky Hatton-trained prospects Adam Little and Kirill Relikh as well as Scott Jenkins, Leo D’Erlanger, Kash Ali and Dave Howe.
Ticket prices are priced at £35 (General Admission), £55 (Reserved Floor Seats), £75 (Ringside) and £100 (VIP Ringside). They can be purchased from 07747 474701.
The show is being televised in the UK by BoxNation (Sky Ch.437 HD 490 and Virgin 546), in France via L’Equipe 21 TV and in Australia (Foxtel Ch.511), Pacific regions and Asia on Eurosport.
