WBA super middleweight champion Callum Smith is looking to make a statement on Saturday night, with the hope of inching his way to a mega-bout with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.
Smith will face former beltholder Hassan N'Dam at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The bout will be part of the Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz undercard.
Canelo currently competes a 160-pounds and holds the IBF, WBA and WBC world titles.
After his decision win over Daniel Jacobs, which took place earlier this month, Canelo and his handlers named Smith as a potential opponent.
So in order to raise his standing to land that fight, Smith realizes that he needs to win the contest with N'Dam in style.
In his last fight, N'Dam outboxed veteran Martin Murray.
Smith is now on the world level stage after his accomplishments in 2018, when he knocked out George Groves to win the World Boxing Super Series super middleweight tournament.
"I can't say I want to fight Canelo and then stink the place out," Smith said to BBC Sport.
"My name coming out of Canelo's mouth, I must be doing something right. There is pressure for people to watch and say I may be the man to beat Canelo. If I don't do it on the weekend, those hopes are smashed to bits.
"This is very special. It's special wherever really to defend a world title for a first time. But Madison Square Garden ticks a lot of boxes. It's the history of it going way back, an iconic venue. On the night it's just a ring, you get in there and switch off but it's always nice to look back on these things.
"Before, Groves' people wrote me off, saying it was a step too far. That was a lot of pressure for myself. Now it's turned around and people expect of me. It's something I have got used to. There has been hype around me always and I feel in some ways the Groves thing brought out the best of me and this will be no different."