PADDY Fitzpatrick insists that Luke Watkins’ focus is on Mike Stafford despite being called out by some of the top cruiserweight prospects in the country.

The undefeated Commonwealth champion will put his belt on the line at the Leicester Arena on December 2 when he faces the 36-year-old from Southport as chief support to Malmesbury’s Joe Hughes’ European super-lightweight title bid against Sweden’s Anthony Yigit.

However, soon after the fight with Stafford was announced, Matchroom Boxing’s undefeated former Southern Area champion Isaac Chamberlain called on the former New College student to face him instead.

Belfast’s Tommy McCarthy has also expressed an interest in facing the 27-year-old since he put the Commonwealth belt around his waist, but Fitzpatrick says that the Northern Irishman had been offered the fight twice before Watkins became champion.

“All we are thinking about right now is December 2,” Fitzpatrick told the Advertiser.

“The McGuigans (Cyclone Promotions) got Duke the Commonwealth title shot and we said that we would give them the first defence and that is what we have done.

“They have been honourable with what they have done and we are honouring that agreement.

“We can look at the future on December 3. We have offered Tommy McCarthy’s team the fight twice before Duke won his title. For whatever reason, it didn’t happen.

“Now he is interested. I don’t think they want Duke, but the Commonwealth title, that’s fine.

“Isaac is a good man, I really like him and what he stands for. It would be a good fight, but right now we are focused on is December 2 and Mike Stafford.”

The Ferndale Road-based trainer said that they looked at former British title challenger Stafford as a potential opponent for his 10th professional contest, with Watkins instead stopping Jiri Svacina in four rounds in April at the Oasis Leisure.

“I was looking at him three fights ago when Duke was 9-0,” the Irishman said. “Now he is facing him as a 12-0 confident Irish and Commonwealth champion who has had the pressure fighting on Sky (Sport Facebook Live) and Spike.”

Fitzpatrick is also confident that Ryan Martin will be able to deal with the pressure of making his television debut as he faces Ludlow’s Craig Morris, who like Martin has a record of eight wins and one defeat, in an English welterweight title eliminator on the same bill as Watkins, with both fights being shown live on Five Spike.

“Ryan has had the pressure of having a whole show built around him and fighting for the WBC Youth world title,” the trainer added.

“That fight didn’t go the way we wanted but since then, he’s come back a different fighter and I don’t think the cameras will have an effect at all because of the April fight.”

Tickets for show are priced £30 unreserved or £100 VIP and are available from any of the fighters.