SEEING Luke Watkins come back from the brink has only strengthened trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick’s belief that his cruiserweight will become a world champion.

The 26-year-old was sent crashing to the canvas for the first time in his career when a clubbing right in the second round from Reinis Porozovs had him on the floor.

But Watkins maintained the unbeaten start to his career by coming back to send the Latvian to the canvas himself in the fifth round before referee Jeff Hinds stepped in to make it eight wins from eight for the former New College student.

“About four years ago, I said that I believed that Duke would become a world champion,” Fitzpatrick said. “That was before he had even turned professional.

“I always believed that he had the attributes to get there.

“You never want to see your fighter on the floor, but now I know that he can get up, get composed and come back and stop a guy who doesn’t normally get stopped.

“Seeing that only solidifies what I believed back then because now I know he has got them (attributes).”

Having taken this bout at short notice, Watkins was a late addition to the New Beginning show at Grange Drive Leisure where Kelly Morgan became WBC Silver middleweight champion, the Fitzpatrick-trained fighter will be back in action next month.

The stoppage win over Porozovs – Watkins' fifth inside the distance – lifted him inside the top 10 ranked British cruiserweights according to BoxRec.com and Fitzpatrick says that he will look to step his charge up once again at the York Hall on July 16.

And the trainer says that the Latvian, who was ranked higher in the European rankings than Watkins prior to Friday night's bout, was already in his sights.

“He was already in my head and I was already looking at him (for 16 July),” said the Ferndale Road-based trainer.

“I was looking at him on YouTube for a few weeks, but I hadn’t told Duke.

“Then when this opportunity came along I thought we could try and get him now.

“But every single fight is going to be a step up on the ladder.

“Duke knows every fight he is stepping it up. He knows that he can be hurt and get dropped and get up and do what is required.

“I will now go back and decide what we need for July 16.”