British lightweight Anthony Crolla believes that he will prove his credentials at world level if he can overcome Gamaliel Diaz at the Phones 4U Arena in Manchester on Saturday evening.
Crolla, who holds the WBO intercontinental strap, has strung together three successive wins to move up the world rankings, and he has revealed that a win at the weekend could earn himself a final eliminator for the WBO title.
The 27-year-old is quoted by Sky Sports News as saying: "I'm due a massive fight and if you look at the WBO ratings, there's a good chance I could get a final eliminator to fight for the WBO belt later in the year.
"All those fighters are superb operators but I wouldn't hesitate in getting in there with them and I would be confident of becoming Britain's newest world champion alongside Kell Brook and Paul Smith in a couple of weeks.
"I have to make sure that I come through Saturday night against Diaz and I am sure that if I do so in style, Eddie Hearn will be able to deliver something big for me. Anyone who knows boxing knows that Diaz is a quality operator and they know this is not an easy fight."
Crolla has won 28 of his 33 professional bouts, while Diaz, the former WBC super-featherweight champion, has 38 victories from 51 encounters.
Darren Plant
