WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew insists he is ready to silence BJ Flores on his way to unifying the division although the match is yet to be officially announced.
The 33-year-old claimed the strap last time out when he saw off Illunga Makabu in three rounds at Goodison Park.
The Merseysider is yet to be officially confirmed against Flores but admits a match-up with the American looks the most likely option.
The WBC world champion will make the first voluntary defence of his new title in Liverpool on October 15 at the Echo Arena.
Flores, who is currently being trained by Shane McGuigan, has been top of Bellew’s list ever since he breezed past Makabu.
The 37-year-old missed out on the chance to claim the WBA cruiserweight crown in July 2015 after losing to Kazakhstan’s Beibut Sumenov.
Bellew insists he is tired of all the talk coming out of his opponents’ camp and has vowed to “smash” Flores when he travels to England.
“It’s looking like it’s going to be BJ Flores and I am really looking forward to it,” Bellew said.
“He’s been mouthing off and following me around for a couple of years and I’m just a little bit fed up with him now. That’s the best way to look at it.
“I am going to smash BJ Flores to bits and be the first man stop him. All he keeps saying is that I am a light-heavyweight, I am this, I am that, so we will soon find out.
“The one thing about fighting Flores is we could well have fireworks before the fight even begins.
“He needs to tone it down and realise that I am giving him this opportunity and he is giving me nothing.
He can do what he does and say what he wants, we’ll see. Come fight night he is going to be in for a rude awakening.”
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