Tuesday 31 October 2017 18:29, UK
Scott Quigg hopes victory over Oleg Yefimovych will set up a shot at the winner of Leo Santa Cruz's likely rematch with Abner Mares.
Quigg faces Ukrainian Yefimovych in a WBA world title eliminator in Monte Carlo this Saturday, live on Sky Sports, and the 29-year-old featherweight is confident victory will move him closer to becoming a two-weight world champion.
The Bury fighter, who now hones his skills in Los Angeles under the tutelage of legendary trainer Freddie Roach, has two wins under his belt since moving up from super-bantamweight and he was ringside to watch WBA 'Super' king Leo Santa Cruz and 'regular' champion Abner Mares both win via stoppage recently.
The fight I want is Abner Mares or Santa Cruz. I believe they're going to be fighting early March or sometime in April, I'd love the winner of that.
The two Mexicans are now scheduled to meet in a rematch early next year and Quigg wants to keep himself in pole position to take on the winner.
"The fight I want is Abner Mares or Santa Cruz. I believe they're going to be fighting early March or sometime in April, I'd love the winner of that. I want to be involved in big fights, like the one I had with Carl Frampton.
"Firstly though, I'm got to get past Yefimovych, I know I've got a tough fight in front of me but it's one I'm very confident in with the work I'm putting in and how I'm looking in the gym.
"Yefimovych's highly ranked in the WBA so it's going to shoot me right up there. I've never boxed in Monte Carlo so it's another new experience and one I am looking forward to.
"I'm now working with Roach and I have made some big changes, I needed to make them big changes and I felt the benefits of it.
"It's good to have something different, Freddie has unrivalled experience and teaming up with him was only ever going to improve me. I've been getting back to my boxing with Freddie, getting behind the jab and simplifying things.
It's all been about letting my skills flow and not smothering my work, and that will let my natural power work. I've been learning every day and most importantly, I'm happy.
"I've made massive improvements since the Frampton defeat and have learned from that. Those are the fights I want to be involved in. Anybody who has got a world title at 126lbs, I want those fights.
"I believe I can still beat Frampton, so I would love that fight, but there is Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares, Oscar Valdez and Lee Selby. On my day, if I turn up 100 per cent, I believe I can beat every one of them.
"Frampton's the only person to beat me, so obviously I want a rematch. If it didn't happen it would be through no fault of me not wanting it. I want to put the record straight."
Watch Scott Quigg, Dmitry Bivol, Jamie McDonnell and Dereck Chisora box in Monte Carlo, live on Sky Sports from 7pm this Saturday, before Deontay Wilder defends his version of the world heavyweight title against Bermane Stiverne, live on Sky Sports, in the early hours of Sunday morning at 1am.
