WBO European super-middleweight champion Frank Buglioni takes on Gaetano Nespro at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday and the Enfield fighter admits he can’t wait for his first title defence. 

The 24-year-old captured European gold in November after he stopped Stepan Horvath in the eighth round of their contest.

‘Wise Guy’ Buglioni has set his sights on extending his unbeaten record at the weekend, which currently stands at 11 wins and no draws or losses.

He said: “I can’t wait for the fight now. The final week before the fight is always the time where you get a little bit anxious and at this point you just want to get into the ring.”

Buglioni will again be supported by a strong home crowd at the Copper Box but he believes 34-year-old Nespro will not be fazed on his first trip to the UK.

He explained: “I am feeling confident and am looking forward to the fight. I have seen a few clips of Nespro and he is an experienced boxer who will not let the crowd affect him.

“I think he has said he is going to use his experience to school me but that doesn’t bother me. I’m looking to get in the ring, perform well and hopefully get the stoppage.”

It is Buglioni’s third year as a professional fighter and he admits the next 12 months could be very important for his still fledgling career.

He wants to continue to develop as a fighter and is targeting domestic bouts against Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding at the end of the year.

He said: “I just want to keep improving and my trainer Mark Tibbs is helping me do that day in, day out. Obviously the better opponents you come up against, the harder you have to work.

“So it is a long process but with the help of Mark and Frank Warren I am confident I can remain unbeaten and titles will come off the back of that.”

But Buglioni’s immediate focus is Saturday. He is on the undercard of a show which sees fellow Londoner Dereck Chisora defend his WBO International and WBA International Heavyweight Titles while British heavyweight Tyson Fury will also be in action.

“They are two fighters who are doing very well and it’s nice to be in that company,” Buglioni said.

“But during the show I’ll be in my dressing room and focused on my fight. It is when you are meeting and greeting the fans and supporters after the fight that I start to take it all in.”