Amir Khan believes he is ready to take the next step in his fledgling career by boosting the length of his fights to eight rounds.
The 19-year-old lightweight only began boxing six-round contests two fights ago but is impatient for a crack at a domestic title.
Khan, who faces Ryan Barrett in home town Bolton on Saturday, said: “I have been doing six rounds and doing them well – now I want to fight over eight rounds.
“My fights have been getting harder but the pace has been getting slower. Now I feel I am ready to move up another gear.
He added in The Sun: “I will be happy if this fight goes six rounds because it is all about me getting more experience.
“I’m not taking this guy lightly. At 11, Barrett is rated three higher than me in the British rankings. He will be tough because of his experience and personal pride and awkward because he is a southpaw.”