JOSH KELLY is confident he will ‘step up to another level’ when he tackles his first professional title fight on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s eagerly-awaited World heavyweight unification bout with Joseph Parker.

Sunderland-born Kelly will take on former IBF World champion Carlos Molina for the vacant WBA International Welterweight title in Cardiff’s Principality Stadium tomorrow evening.

While Molina is a seasoned performer with 38 professional bouts under his belt, Kelly will only be tackling his sixth assignment in the paid ranks.

Nevertheless, the 2016 Olympian is confident he can take the step up in standard in his stride, with a win this evening potentially paving the way for a full-blown World title fight before the end of the year.

“I don’t feel any pressure on me,” said Kelly. “It is good to step up for me on such a card. I want to put in a good performance and prove the young talent from Britain can take over the boxing scene. We are moving on fast.

“It’s another step for me, another fight. (Molina) has the experience, so this is the right direction for me to take. I’m in a great place and can’t wait to perform and show my levels again.”

Since turning professional after the Olympics in Rio, Kelly has quickly developed a reputation as one of the most explosive and exciting young fighters in the country.

The 24-year-old has won all five of his professional contests, with four of the victories coming via a knock-out, with his ‘Pretty Boy’ nickname helping add to his marketability.

Eddie Hearn was quick to sign the Wearsider to his Matchroom operation, enabling him to fight on tonight’s glamour card, but he will only continue to progress if he can see off opponents such as Molina with a minimum of fuss.

The Mexican is 34 now, and while he won the IBF World Light-Middleweight title with a win over Ishe Smith in 2013, his last two contests have ended in defeats to Carlos Adames and Ahmed El Mousaoui.

“Carlos has a good resume,” said Kelly. “He comes with a good background and experience, and I always dig into my fighters. I have watched him in his prime.

“I want to nullify the good things and capitalise on his weaknesses. I think it will be a good night, and a good fight. We will go through the gears and see what Molina has left. I hope he brings the best out of me.”

Molina accepts tomorrow’s fight is probably his last opportunity to get himself back to the big-time, and having waited for more than a decade to get a chance to fight in Britain, the experienced campaigner is determined to pull off a shock.

“I have wanted to fight over here for so long,” he said. “I have been asking Eddie Hearn and Matchroom for an opportunity – I hope it is the first of many.

“I knew I would have to beat a prospect to get to the top – I just didn’t know when or where. That’s why I kept myself in training, eating well. I wanted to be ready for this opportunity.

“My experience is important. The last two fights I had, I had to refocus. I don’t care if he’s had five or 30 fights – I treat it the same way. It is part of the greatest comeback story.”