Anthony Fowler believes he’s entering his prime, ready to move toward big fights

Junior middleweight Anthony Fowler returns to action on Saturday’s Okolie-Glowacki card from London (March 20, DAZN, 3 pm ET), with the Liverpudlian facing Spain’s Jorge Fortea in a rescheduled 10-round bout.

Fowler (13-1, 10 KO) will have home field and is the A-side of the fight, but he says he won’t be brushing off Fortea (21-2-1, 7 KO), whose record is a bit fluffed up when you look past just the W-L mark. Fowler, though, sees a smart fighter he expects to make him work.

“Fortea is a really good fighter, he’s boxed on Canelo’s undercard and gone 12 rounds with the IBF No. 1 (Bakhram Murtazaliev),” he said. “He’s not the biggest puncher but he’s got good ring IQ and is very tough. I know he is going to make me work for the win. When I beat him I will be ranked in three of the four governing bodies.

“I’m looking to box someone like Sergio Garcia next and then I won’t be far off a world title fight. You’re only one big win away from a big fight and when I beat Fortea I hope some doors will open.”

Fowler credits trainer Shane McGuigan with helping him reach his potential in camp, which the fighter believes will translate to the fight nights.

“I feel like I’ve fully adapted and I’m coming into my own under Shane now. I’m sparring 12 rounds easily and I feel a lot more at home in the ring,” he said. “I’m coming into my prime now, I’ve just turned 30. I want to get in with the big boys and see what I’m made of. Shane is getting me to be more controlled and professional, if I can stop Fortea it will be a big statement.”

Fowler also mentioned that he is open to a rematch with Scott Fitzgerald, the man who beat him just about two years ago, and Eddie Hearn has said he wants to make that fight for the summer. But Fowler says he “won’t wait around” for Fitzgerald (14-0, 9 KO), who hopes to return in April but hasn’t fought since a tight Oct. 2019 win over Ted Cheeseman.