Steven Ward ready to rock Belfast on October 5

The unbeaten Celtic light-heavyweight king (8-0-KO3) moves up to 10 rounds in front of his home crowd at the Titanic Exhibition Centre – live on BoxNation – and is sure Paredes’ aggressive style will contribute towards an exciting fight.

Ward said: “This is a step up. He’s stopped 11 out of his 15 wins and you don’t get many easy Mexicans. I expect him to bring the best out of me.

“We prepared for a come-forward fighter last time out and although we didn’t get that when we stepped in the ring, it’s a case of more of the same in preparation. I’m excited to get back in there.

“Boxing in Belfast is just massive at the moment. I fell on my feet with the timing of turning professional and I’m lucky to be a part of it. I’m grateful to MTK Global for having me active all the time.”

The towering Ward has been peppered by gym-mates Carl Frampton and Conrad Cummings with the nickname ‘Boring’ of late – but raised eyebrows during a recent BBC documentary on Frampton with a cutting jibe at Frampton’s height.

Addressing his character, Ward said: “I might not be the life and soul of the party but I’ve got the odd one-liner every now and then. What makes it funny is nobody expects it.

“The boys take the ‘mickey’ out of me saying I’m boring but I’m just happy in my own skin. I’m happy enough to sit in the background and be the ‘grey man’ as they say.

“I don’t have to be the front-facing face of everything but every so often, someone puts a pound in me and I chirp up with a cracker.”

Ward takes on Paredes at #DANGERATTHEDOCKS on a card headlined by Tyrone McCullagh’s European title clash with Josh Kennedy and also featuring Paddy Gallagher vs. Jay Byrne, Marco McCullough vs. Ruddy Encarnacion, Conrad Cummings, Nathaniel May, Gary Cully, Sean McComb, Steven Donnelly, Padraig McCrory and Sean McGlinchey.