DESPITE taking control of his own career, Luke Watkins insists that his focus is on what happens inside the ring – not outside it.

The unbeaten cruiserweight will step between the ropes for the 10th time in his professional career next Saturday when he faces Hungarian Gergely Horvath over 10 rounds at the Oasis Leisure Centre.

But the 27-year-old, who is trained and formally managed by Paddy Fitzpatrick, helped form Trifecta Boxing Promotions with stable mates Ryan Martin and Sam Smith in a bid to guide their own destinies.

Watkins, who is acting as chief support to Martin’s WBC Youth world welterweight title bid against Michael McKinson, says that he has been focusing his attentions on protecting his unblemished record and staying on track for his Irish cruiserweight title fight later this year.

“It (being involved in Trifecta) has opened my eyes as to what managers and promoters have to do to get a show on,” said Watkins, whose mother hails from County Wexford. “But I have left a lot of the day-to-day running to Paddy.

“I’ve just wanted to focus on what I have got to do – and that is win my fight.

“The more things that I have to concentrate on, the less concentrated my mind becomes.”

While, Watkins is expected to come through his bout with Horvath, who has won six of his 11 contests - which have all been in his homeland, a slip could see he bid to create history scuppered.

After facing the 22-year-old Hungarian, who was stopped by Vitkor Biscak inside of two rounds during their Universal Boxing Organisation and Slovakian cruiserweight title fight in February, the Fitzpatrick-trained boxer will then face Ian Tims for the Irish belt.

“Purses are being opened two days after my fight,” said the former New College student, who is ranked seventh in Britain by BoxRec.com. “I can’t lose this fight, because then the Irish title fight is off the table.

“Fighting for the Irish title, and winning it, will create my own piece of history in boxing as a black man has never won it, nor fought for it.”