BOXING: Ryan Burnett closing in on Belfast fight date

Burnett defended his British Bantamweight title in convincing fashion in November, taming local favourite Ryan Farrag in Liverpool to move to 15-0.

The Belfast ace - who will face Joseafat Reyes in Hull on Saturday night - believes his dominant win over Farrag shows he’s ready to move onto bigger things, and World title glory is now the target for the summer.

“I want a World title, I don’t really want to be staying at this level now. I want to move on to get a World title – that is what I’m focused on.

“I’m still young. I still have plenty to learn but I think maybe in a couple of fights time I will be ready for a World title fight.

“There have been talks about me fighting the WBO World champion Marlon Tapales and I think that will be a fight that I would be very interested in.

“I think I beat the best Farrag because he had a point to prove. It was definitely the sort of test that I needed to get over to prove I am ready for bigger things.”

Burnett has not boxed in Belfast since November 2014, so the 24 year old feels that taking a World title to the city would be the perfect homecoming.

“I think we’re looking to have a big show in the middle of the year in Belfast and I think that the World title fight is definitely in the pipeline for Belfast,” said Burnett.

“I have done my apprenticeship. I have been away, I have boxed everywhere and I want to go home now and have a big show in Belfast.

“I’ve done all the work to get into this position and I think it is time for me and all the fans in Belfast to have a big night there with me as the main event.

“Belfast fans are very passionate when it comes to the boxing and that is one the reasons why I want to get back to Belfast.

“I want to give them a bit of Ryan Burnett because that is something they have been deprived of a lot. I am looking forward to going home.”