PADDY Fitzpatrick has warned Luke Watkins he that can't go in all guns blazing against Ian Tims on Saturday as the two meet for the vacant Irish title in Belfast.

The unbeaten cruiserweight fights for his first professional belt at the weekend on the undercard of Bristol’s Lee Haskins’ IBF world bantamweight title defence against Ryan Burnett.

Swindon’s Watkins has clocked up six stoppages in his 10 bouts to date, including a fourth round TKO of Jiri Svacina in Arpil.

However, against the rugged Tims, Fitzpatrick doesn’t want the 27-year-old to just search for that one punch finish.

“You could be out-boxing Ian Tims every round, but he will still be there to break your heart,” the Ferndale Road-based trainer said.

“He will still be there to take advantage of any mistake that you make. He will be there all night long, you don’t look to get rid of a man like Ian Tims, you look to put rounds in the bank.”

Dubliner Tims is former holder of the Irish title, however, when the 37-year-old has looked to step it up a level he has come unstuck.

When he faced Finland’s Juho Haapoja for the EBU-EU belt, Tims lost a unanimous points decision, while in his next bouts, against Tony Conquest for the WBO International title he retired at the end of the seventh round.

Tims’ other loss came against Bolton-based Lithuanian Paul Drago when he retired after injuring his leg in the first round after being knocked down.

Despite those defeats, Fitzpatrick believes that this fight, which is being screened live on Sky Sports, will be Watkins’ toughest test.

“Some men look hard but they are not, Ian looks hard and he is (hard),” the trainer said.

“He is one of those men that will break your heart, he will never leave you alone and he will always come forward.

“As long as you are ready for that and accept that is the way it is going to be then you can be emotionally composed with that and you can set up a game plan.

“This will be his most physical test.”