PADDY Fitzpatrick is looking for Luke Watkins to end his breakout year on a high note this weekend.

The defending Commonwealth cruiserweight champion puts his belt on the line on Saturday night when he faces former British title challenger Mike Stafford at the Leicester Arena live on Five Spike.

And for the former New College student, this will be his third title fight of 2017 after capturing his first belt – the Irish crown – in June before wrapping the Commonwealth strap around his waist in September.

The undefeated 28-year-old, who made his pro debut in September 2014 at Wembley Arena, will also have his third televised fight of the year, with the Ian Tims Irish title fight shown live on Sky Sports Boxing Facebook page and the sixth-round stoppage of Robin Dupre for the Commonwealth belt broadcast on Freeview channel Five Spike.

“He (Watkins) has had a good year,” Fitzpatrick told the Advertiser. “His exposure has been a lot better. He was known within the boxing circles, now the everyday man is hearing a bit about him and we want to win this (on Saturday) and we win it good.”

In the build-up to the fight with Stafford, Isaac Chamberlain and Tommy McCarthy have both expressed an interest in facing Watkins, but Ferndale Road trainer Fitzpatrick says he his fighter should be looking at British champion Matty Askin.

“Duke is now in a position where he has a target on his back and that is the best feeling in the world – that is what he wanted,” Fitzpatrick said.

“We want unifications, we want Matty Askin, we want to progress and fight for the European title, this is what we want now. The people that we want are the ones that have something that we don’t have.

“But if an offer was made that was worthwhile then of course it would be ignorant not to listen or pay attention.”