Caoimhin Agyarko believes that victory over Ishmael Davis on September 13 will kick down the door to world level.

The junior middleweight rivals will fight on the undercard of the vacant IBF welterweight title fight between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan, broadcast live worldwide on DAZN from Belfast's Windsor Park.

The unbeaten Agyarko (17-0, 7 KOs) has been plugging away as a professional for seven years but has been unable to move far beyond domestic title level.

Davis, on the other hand, has moved extremely quickly.

Less than 12 months after making his television debut, Davis (13-2, 6 KOs) lost a close decision to Josh Kelly on the Anthony Joshua-Daniel Dubois undercard. Three months later, he was stopped after six rounds of another big bout with The Ring's No. 6-ranked junior middleweight contender Serhii Bohachuk.

Agyarko doesn’t blame Davis for moving quickly. Neither does he begrudge him being handed the kind of opportunities that he himself has been desperate for.

“No, I respect Ishmael for taking the fights. You've got to take any opportunities that you get if you feel like that's the right decision and opportunity for you at the time and he did so,” Agyarko told The Ring.

“It’s unfortunate for him that he came up short both times but I would never knock another fighter for challenging themselves. I don't feel any type of way about him getting the opportunities that I feel like I deserved. I'm on my own path.

“I'm in competition with nobody else but Caoimhin Agyarko.”

Agyarko has found himself on the starting blocks before.

An undoubted talent, the 28-year-old has beaten the likes of Troy Williamson and Juan Carlos Rubio but found it hard to multiply those wins up into a bigger opportunity.

Windsor Park is expected to be packed to the rafters for the eagerly awaited Crocker-Donovan rematch and although Agyarko has boxed on major cards in the past, he is certain that if he can beat the respected Davis on such a stage, it will be impossible to deny him for much longer.

“This is the big one I think,” he said. “Fighting in a stadium like Windsor Park in my backyard on an all-Irish world title card and being co-main event is massive for my career. Hopefully I have the right dance partner on the night to go out and show the world how good I am.

“It's exactly what I've been calling for. I feel like I'm within touching distance of a world title. I'm world ranked so go and get past Ishmael Davis and then we push on.”

Agyarko and Davis don’t get along. Their differences are down to a clash of personality rather than any deep seated hatred but the two have exchanged insults since the moment the fight was announced.

Behind the talk, both fighters are primarily slick, clever fighters adept at capitalising on their opponent's mistakes. Both will also be fully aware that a defeat will - for the time being at least - put a ceiling on their world title ambitions.

Agyarko's declaration that he “hopes” he has the right dance partner to prove his quality gives a pretty clear indication that whilst he wants Davis to arrive in Belfast looking for a fight, is also prepared for a nip and tuck chess match.

“I hope his fighting's going to be as good as his talking,” he said.

“Caoimhin Agyarko needs that right dance partner, someone who's going to bring the best out of him, like Troy Williamson.

“When someone is touted to beat Caoimhin and they bring their best on the night, I show levels and that's what I think I need from Ishmael. I need him to come out and be the best Ishmael Davis on the night.”