The junior middleweight Anthony Velazquez will fight Tanzania’s Yusuph Metu on Saturday evening at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Velazquez, 29, last fought in February, when stopping Brian Damian Chaves. 

The 32-year-old Metu stopped his compatriot Karage Suba in November. It was in September in Moscow, Russia when he recorded his first defeat, by Albert Khamkhoev. In his 12-fight professional career that was also the only occasion he has fought outside of his home country – the contest with Velazquez will therefore be his second.

“It feels great to be headlining again at home in Springfield,” Velazquez said. “It had always been a dream of mine since I was 11. I have a lot of people supporting me here and a lot of kids look up to me. I didn’t have someone growing up here. 

“People here expect big things from me. There are negative environments everywhere; sports are positive for kids, and I use that for motivation.

“I know my opponent is 11-1, my size, and fighters from Africa are tough and always in shape with a lot of pride. Training camp has been great. It’s been long – 14 weeks – and I’m ready to fight right now. I’ve had a lot of 10-round sparring sessions with a lot of good [my trainer] Hector Bermudez’s fighters, depending on who was in camp. All of them are undefeated.

“[The] plan is to get me in bigger fights to move me into the ratings. This is my second scheduled 10-rounder; the more the better, and I hope to stay busy through the end of the year. I’m in the groove and we’ll see who is next after this fight. Promoters are watching now. I believe in my adviser, and this is my time to make a move in my weight class.”