Heavyweight up-and-comer Mourad Aliev will look to take the next step in his burgeoning career on Saturday, when he challenges Labinot Xhoxhaj for the European title at the Universum Gym in Hamburg, Germany.

"I can't wait to get back into the ring," Aliev (13-0, 10 KOs) told The Ring. "This will be a tremendous fight, I love fighting in Hamburg. I had my pro debut there and fought a couple of times [there since], it's always good to be there.

"Xhoxhaj is unbeaten and the reigning European champion. So, he's a good fighter and I will not underestimate him. At the same time, I know about my own qualities and am sure that I will beat him - but will have to be focused and bring my A game."

The Russian-born French-based fighter represented the latter at the 2020 Olympics and hopes to add his name to the likes of Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko, as Olympians, who later claimed the European title before enjoying stellar careers.

"When I turned pro, I had two goals: Becoming European champion and becoming WBC world heavyweight champion," he remarked. "The Green and Gold WBC belt is the ultimate prize in boxing, but the European title has such a great history that I see it as a very important step on my way to the world title.

"I want to win and hopefully defend it a couple of times. So many great fighters have held that title, I want to follow in their footsteps and become a part of history."

Aliev, who has prepared in French city Lille under the watchful eye of his father, clearly has lofty future ambitions but is zeroed in on his 32-year-old opponent for the meantime.

"I won't make the mistake to look past Xhoxhaj," he continued. "This is the fight I am thinking of, it doesn't make sense to even discuss further steps until I beat him."

However, Aliev's promoter Ahmet Oner isn't shy about championing his fighters' cause and believes the 29-year-old has vast potential to deliver.

"I think Mourad is the most spectacular up-and-coming fighter in the heavyweight division at the moment," said the promoter. "If he continues working as hard as he has and stays focused, the sky is the limit. He is already ranked in the world's top 10.

"If he beats Xhoxhaj and wins the European title, he will be right in the mix for a possible world title shot. The heavyweight division is red hot right now with many talented young fighters - Mourad might be the best of them."

Xhoxhaj (20-0-1, 16 KOs) turned professional in 2016 and the Kosovo-born fighter has boxed in Germany, Switzerland and native homeland Kosovo on the way up.

The eight-year pro enters this contest on a three-fight win streak, since being held to an eight-round split draw by Milosav Savic in May 2023. He was expected to lose against the much bigger Oleksandr Zakhozhyi in the Ukrainian's first title defence, though recovered from an early knockdown to score one of his own and win a 12-round decision in November.