LUKE Watkins has become a marked man ahead of his fight at the York Hall next month.

The unbeaten cruiserweight heads to the spiritual home of British boxing looking to stretch his perfect record to seven fights when he faces Tony Cruise, who has won six of his eight fights to date.

However, the 26-year-old’s trainer, Paddy Fitzpatrick, says that it was the Yorkshireman and his team who came looking for the Duke.

“They asked us for the fight, they want Duke,” Fitzpatrick said. “They must feel they have seen something and believe a win will get their boy in the mix.

“But this is the right fight for Duke. It is a step up, but it is a step up that he needs to take.

“Both fighters have got six wins and should Duke win then he will be in a position to be nominated for the Southern Area title.”

Watkins has once again been enjoying high quality sparring ahead of his clash with Cruise, with former world champions Nathan Cleverly and Enzo Maccarinelli providing the opposition.

“Enzo is still a murderous puncher – he is one of the hardest punchers at cruiserweight in the world,” said Fitzpatrick, who has been forced to withdraw Sam Smith from his May fight due to an injured left hand.

“The spars with Enzo are learning spars. Enzo gives Luke a lot of advice when they are sparring.”

Should Watkins, who was scheduled to fight in March at the Oasis Leisure Centre before the show was cancelled, defeat the 34-year-old from Barnsley then he will return to York Hall on July 16 and appear on the same bill as Penhill’s Kelvin Young’s Southern Area light-heavyweight title bout.

“Missing out in March was disappointing,” said the Ferndale Road-based trainer, who guided Bristol-based light-heavyweight David Bailey to his fourth win last weekend.

“But you can either move on or dwell on it - have moved on.

“We have got a two-fight deal with Steve Goodwin, the May fight and then July.

“After that we are looking at the guys in the top 10 - except Ovill McKenzie, Tony Bellew and Enzo.”