Anthony Fowler is excited for his clash against fellow scouser Liam Smith on Saturday night, but the super-welterweight is well aware of the challenges posed by his Liverpool rival.
Speaking to Ring Magazine, Fowler revealed he has prepared for what could be a hard fight at the M&S Bank Arena.
"He’s a good fighter, he’s experienced, he’s been around the block,” Fowler said.
“He’s fought some good fighters and he’s a good fighter himself, so I’ve prepared for a hard night."
However, following Smith's points loss to Magomed Kurbanov in Russia five months ago, Fowler believes he is facing the former WBO light-middleweight champion at the right time.
“I think he’s probably seen his best days. I think his best days are behind him but I think he’s got plenty left in the tank." Fowler stated.
"He’s just boxed 12 rounds and was unlucky not to get it [the decision] in Russia, so he’s obviously still at a high standard but I do think he has peaked, yeah."
Under his coach Shane McGuigan, Fowler believes he has progessed as a fighter with considerable improvements in his jab and accuracy.
"I think my fitness is much better than it used to be,” Fowler explained.
“I can do 12 rounds comfortably in the gym which at Dave [Coldwell]’s was a struggle. At Shane’s we spar a lot of rounds and he works you at a high intensity all the time, even when you’re on the pads, so I think my fitness has really improved and I’ll need it in this fight. I’ve always had a good jab but I don’t think I used it as much as I should have at the start of my career and I think Shane’s brought the best out of me."
Watch Anthony Fowler's clash with Brian Rose from August 2019 below.