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Preview: Scott Quigg, Anthony Crolla, Anthony Joshua

Sports Mole previews Matchroom Sport's Glory Road event at the Phones4U Arena in Manchester on Saturday evening.

British super-bantamweight Scott Quigg will attempt to make the third defence of his WBA title on Saturday evening when he faces Belgium's Stephane Jamoye.

The main event of Matchroom Sport's Glory Road event, which is being held at the Phones4U Arena in Manchester, is followed by heavyweight Anthony Joshua's eighth professional fight against Germany's Konstantin Airich.

Home favourite Anthony Crolla will also be hoping to move closer to a shot at the WBO lightweight title when he goes up against former WBC super-featherweight champion Gamaliel Diaz.

Below, Sports Mole takes a look at each encounter while also attempting to predict the final outcome.

1. Scott Quigg vs. Stephane Jamoye

Much of the talk over the past 12 months has been regarding a mammoth showdown between Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton, and with the Northern Irishman fulfilling his end of the bargain last weekend with a punch-perfect performance against Kiko Martinez, the pressure is on Quigg to produce in his third WBA title defence.

After being handed the vacant strap ahead of his draw with Yoandris Salinas, Quigg has blasted through his next two opponents in two rounds and it is impossible not to be impressed with the style in which the Bury fighter has dismantled both Diego Oscar Silva and Tshifhiwa Munyai.

However, despite frequently stating his wish to face WBC champion Leo Santa Cruz, Quigg has been denied the chance to test himself at the very highest level, and he must overcome Stephane Jamoye if a meeting with Frampton or Santa Cruz is going to come to fruition.

The Belgian is just 24 years of age but he is a former European champion and picked up valuable experience when competing for the WBC bantamweight strap in Japan earlier this year.

Jamoye has five defeats on his record, but this is a dangerous fight for Quigg and while he is the overwhelming favourite, he will have to replicate his previous two displays to come through in impressive fashion.

Scott Quigg celebrates his victory over Rendell Munroe during their Super Bantamweight bout at the MEN Arena on November 24, 2012© Getty Images

2. Anthony Crolla vs. Gamaliel Diaz

At certain stages of his career, there has been the perception that Anthony Crolla doesn't punch hard enough to make his move up to European and world level, but over the course of his last three fights, the Mancunian has proven his doubters wrong.

After finishing strongly to overcome Gavin Rees, Crolla has shown that he has more than just durability and boxing ability in his armoury by stopping both Stephen Foster and John Murray in convincing fashion to catapult himself into consideration for a world title shot.

A fight with WBA title holder Richar Abril failed to materialise, but the fact that he was being linked with such company indicates that his stock has risen in the lightweight division, and he has another chance to improve that against Gamaliel Diaz at the weekend.

Diaz has suffered 11 defeats during a 51-fight career but he is a former WBC super-featherweight champion and although it was almost 10 years ago, he handed welterweight contender Robert Guerrero one of his two professional defeats, the other being against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The 33-year-old has been stopped in two of his last three outings, but it's very rare that you get a Mexican that isn't tough and prepared to fight, and Crolla will have to be tactically sound if he is to showcase his talent in front of his home crowd.

3. Anthony Joshua vs. Konstantin Airich

Anthony Joshua catches Emanuele Leo during their Heavyweight bout at O2 Arena on October 5, 2013© Getty Images

After making his debut in the paid ranks almost a year ago, Anthony Joshua has enjoyed a perfect start to his transition from amateur to professional with seven wins in a row, but as promoter Eddie Hearn begins to step up his opposition, the next few fights could tell us a lot more about the Olympic gold medallist.

Joshua is yet to be taken past two rounds, something which has its benefits and drawbacks, but while his reputation in the sport continues to soar, the Londoner needs to gain rounds under his belt if he is to progress at a rate that will suit the up-and-coming heavyweight.

Konstantin Airich may have only won 21 times in 32 outings, but this is a tougher assignment for Joshua than his previous seven tests. The German has lost five of his last seven fights but they've all been against world-ranked opponents and he has gone the distance with three of them.

Joshua should come through this contest without too many problems, but this could potentially be the first time that the 25-year-old needs to remain patient with his approach, and if he can came emerge with the win in four or five rounds, that would represent the perfect night's work ahead of his next fight for the WBC international title.

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Carl Froch and George Groves go head to head to promote their upcoming fight during a press conference at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel on September 17, 2013
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