Unbeaten British contender Liam Walsh is oozing confidence ahead of his challenge for the IBF junior lightweight title on May 20.

Walsh (21-0, 14 knockouts) faces undefeated American Gervonta Davis at the Copper Box Arena in London in what will be his toughest test to date.

Undeterred, however, the 30-year-old stylist is already looking ahead to an all-British clash with the WBO lightweight titleholder.

“A great fight would be against Terry Flanagan,” said Walsh. “I have got so much respect for him, and it is between him and (Jorge) Linares who is the best in the world.

“It is a huge fight for Britain, but Terry is most probably not interested in fighting me because I haven’t earned his stripes.

“I think he is tight on weight and looking at moving up soon, but without sounding big-headed if it was at (140 pounds), I’d still do it.”

It’s ambitious talk from Walsh but the Englishman is an extremely talented operator. He is a former British and Commonwealth champion and, last time out, scored a 12-round shut-out victory over former world title challenger Andrey Klimov.

He said, “People will laugh but I think I can hold my own at (140 pounds). Maybe someone needs to fill me in and bring me down to earth.

“I have just got self-belief and confidence that I can hold my own. People will think I’m an idiot, but until I am proved wrong, I will have that mentality.”

The 22-year-old Davis, who is rated No. 6 by THE RING at 130 pounds, has knocked out 16 of 17 opponents but Walsh dismissed his power. “I have watched his fights on YouTube,” said the challenger. “He is hitting people with four or five clean punches and they are not going anywhere.

“For me, he has got the Chris Eubank Jr. effect. He throws all these really good looking shots, then he nails the guy flush across the chin and the guy looks at him. You think, ’That should have knocked him out’, because it looks brilliant but he isn’t knocking people out cold.”

All floor seating at the Copper Box Arena has sold out.

Remaining tickets priced £40 and £50 are available from www.seetickets.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Information courtesy of a press release issued by Frank Warren PR

Tom Gray is a UK Correspondent/ Editor for RingTV.com and a member of THE RING ratings panel.  Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing

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