JOHN Wayne Hibbert says he is ready to make the most of a “massive opportunity” when he bids to win the WBC Silver belt against Italian Andrea Scarpa at the O2 Arena this weekend.

The Horndon-on-the-Hill super-lightweight boxer will fight on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s latest heavyweight title fight on Saturday night, with Scarpa potentially standing between him and a world title fight.

Hibbert, 31, has vacated both Commonwealth and WBC International belts to try and win the Silver belt but says he faces his toughest test so far against the 6ft Italian.

Hibbert is currently completing his training in Tenerife as he drops 12 pounds to hit the 12stone required, landing back in the UK three days before the bout, and he says he feels sharp.

“It has been a brilliant camp so far and I feel fantastic heading into this fight,” said Hibbert. “I had a good fight against Tommy Martin but this will be a different sort of fight and I have been preparing in that way.

“I am going out there with Liam Walsh (current Commonwealth super featherweight champion) to put the finishing touches to my camp.

“I have been sparring with some local boxers including Charlie Driscoll and Liam Desmond and Kent boxer Lewis Green and I am feeling sharp.

“I have been doing 12 three-and-a-half minute rounds with 30 second breaks and I am confident across 12 rounds, I am cruising it.

“But I hope to finish the fight before that.”

Scarpa has won his last 18 fights but has never boxed outside his home country and Hibbert says that could play a part, calling on the home support to help him over the line.

And Hibbert says winning is critical if he wants to line up a world title fight in the coming months.

“It is a massive opportunity for me,” he said. “If I win this I will be in with a shout of a world title fight and that is what I want.

“He is one place above me in the European Super-Lightweight rankings and hasn’t lost a fight in almost five years so it will not be easy but he will have to be very big and strong to get through me.

“He has not fought over here before and he will find it tough at the O2 Arena and in front of a hostile crowd.”

Hibbert is sponsored by Julio Spar Ltd and Summer Couture, Le Hope Contractors, SVM Installations, Youth Creation, JVH Building Services, Capwell Design Ltd, Dean Crumpton Painting & Decorating, the Karis May Darling Foundation, SJIT, Reeds Butchers, Impulse Leisure and T&P Lead Roofing.