Undefeated super middleweight Padraig ‘The Hammer’ McCrory 18-0 (9) insists he is ready for the challenge of facing Edgar ‘The Chosen One’ Berlanga 21-0 (16) at Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida on Saturday night.

In fact, the 35-year-old Irishman has been ready for him for close to a year.

“I know that I am more than ready for this fight,” McCrory told ProBox TV. “I was offered the Berlanga fight this past June, we did agree a deal, but then Matchroom announced the Jason Quigley fight, which was a bit of a surprise. I ended up having a good 10 rounds in Belfast [against Steed Woodall] instead. But this one is the big fight that I am looking for.

“He is a good fighter. He has some great attributes, but I still don’t think he is the finished article. There are flaws in him; there are also a lot of stories of him getting dropped in sparring and in his fights in the amateurs. I thought Quigley won every round he didn’t get dropped in; he dropped him four or five times in that fight. Again, he showed flaws in his game.

“Quigley is not as big of a puncher as me either. But Quigley is a great boxer and he showed Berlanga can be hit clean. That’s what I’ll be planning on doing.”

McCrory has more than paid his dues to get to where his is, working blue collar jobs to make ends meet while he chases his dream of making it to the big time in boxing.

“I was working on the door [of a nightclub], which was about four years ago. Until recently I’ve been working as a personal trainer,” MCrory said.

“Boxing people think you are making millions, but you are not. I’ve got three young kids at home and for me, that’s my main priority. I’ll work anywhere. Boxing is secondary. But, this is a great opportunity – one that can change my life.”

Puerto Rican Berlanga, 26, will have age on his side come fight night, but the aura that surrounded his punching power after 16 straight first rounds knockouts to begin his career has waned in recent times with his last five fights going the distance.

McCrory’s promoter Jamie Conlan is convinced his boxer is primed for a breakthrough win.

“He was working on the door no so long ago,” Conlan told ProBox TV. “He is also a fantastic personal trainer; he has great business with a bunch of clientele. He’s still doing the PT stuff as he is preparing for the biggest fight of his life.

“But he really is the everyman – he is the man’s man. It is a fantastic story he has got behind him. He can change his life… It’s a massive opportunity and I genuinely believe we will see fireworks. Padraig McCrory can punch like a mule – so can Edgar Berlanga. It’s a real humdinger.

“It is just such a great opportunity for him to go out to the States and do something he probably never thought he was going to get too. He’s just enjoying every minute of it.”