WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew has vowed to become the first person to knockout BJ Flores when the pair meet on Saturday night.

Bellew will defend the belt for the first time this weekend at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, just five months after he stopped IIunga Makabu to win the title.

The Liverpudlian comes into the bout with seven knockout wins in his 27 victories and he insists he will add another to his record when he faces Flores.

Flores also comes into the bout with an impressive knockout ratio, with 20 of his 32 wins coming inside the distance.

Ahead of the fight, Bellew insists Flores will know that early on that he is fighting the best cruiserweight in the world.

He told Sky Sports News HQ: “I’ve worked hard, I’ve done everything I can in camp and it is what it is so we’ll see where we are come Saturday night.

“I’ve opened my mouth, I’ve done what I said over the years, but ultimately I’ve always got in the ring and tried to back it up as best as I can.

The target is on my back now, firmly set there so I have to just go out there and show what I’m about. “I’m just going to pulverise him with everything, he’s in for a hiding.

As good as he is, which he is good, he’s been ranked now for many, many years, but I’ll be honest, his mouth got him the fight and now his mouth has stopped only the harsh realities remain in front of him.

“And the harsh reality is that he’s in with the most dangerous cruiserweight in the world and that’s me, and come Saturday night, he’s going to know that.”