Jack Catterall can see the New Year in safe in the knowledge that his world title fight is just around the corner.

The WBO Inter-Continental super-lightweight champion is the number one with the sanctioning body and therefore mandatory for the champion Jose Carlos Ramirez.

Catterall was in action in Dubai last month when he outpointed Timo Schwarzkopf, exclusively live on iFL TV worldwide and ESPN + Stateside, by margins of 99-92, 99-91 & 100-91.

And the 26-year-old, trained by Jamie Moore, is excited that the opportunity he’s been waiting for will come before long.

“I’m delighted by this news and I look forward to finally fulfilling my life-long dream of becoming a world champion,” said Catterall, who was guaranteed a shot at the latest WBO convention in Tokyo, Japan.

“I don’t mind who wins out of Jose Ramirez and Viktor Postol as I have respect for both but would also be confident going in to a fight with either.”

Ramirez defends both his WBO and WBC world super-lightweight titles against the ex-world champion on February 1 at Mission Hills Haikou in Haikou, China, on a card promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc.

“Some fighters talk themselves into good situations and fair play to them but I’ve never been one for that and I’m proud to say I fought my way here,” he continued. “I’ve earned what’s coming in the spring the hard way.

“In a way, the preparation for this started when I was still a child but now it ramps up knowing I’m within touching distance and that I’m guaranteed my shot early next year.”

Details regarding Catterall’s shot at the winner of Ramirez vs. Postol will be revealed in due course.