Liam Smith is hoping to be boosted by the ringside support of Steven Gerrard when he fights Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez on Saturday.
Smith (23-01, 13 KOs) has spoken to his fellow Liverpudlian about attending his WBO world light-middleweight title defence against Mexican Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) at the AT&T Stadium in Texas.
Canelo, who has dropped down a division after relinquishing his WBC middleweight title rather than fight Gennady Golovkin, is a big favourite to relieve Smith of his WBO belt.
After two low-risk defences, Smith insists he is ready to for a big step up in class and hopes former Liverpool and England midfielder Gerrard, who now plays for American side LA Galaxy, will be there to see him upset the odds.
Boxing fan Gerrard has been out of action since suffering a hamstring injury last month and is a doubt for his side's game against Sporting Kansas City the day after Smith fights Canelo.
"Steven is supposed to be going to the fight and I've had a conversation with him about it and because of injury he might be able to make it," Smith told ESPN.
"He's a big fan of boxing but he's also a friend of the family and it would be great to have them there if he can make it, but we will have to see.
"It's a step up but I believe I'm ready for this fight. I'm not a 32 or 33-year-old looking for a pay day before I get out the game.
"I'm young and a champion and I've got something to lose. I didn't have to fight Canelo, I chose to fight him and should be getting more money for it.
"But it's not about the money, it's about my chance to put myself up there and beat one of the biggest names in the sport."
To help prepare for Canelo, Smith has sparred with fellow Briton Kell Brook who was beaten in five rounds by world middleweight No 1 Gennady Golovkin on Saturday.
Smith -- one of four boxing brothers -- also sparred with Amir Khan before the Bolton welterweight also stepped up two weight divisions to challenge Alvarez for his WBC middleweight title in May, only to be knocked out in the sixth round.
Smith, 28, believes both Brook and Khan had tougher tasks than he does this weekend after the pair stepped up two weight divisions.
"I definitely think Kell's fight was harder because I'm very confident I can go out there and win," Smith said.
"In my opinion Kell won't win but I'm a genuine light-middleweight and I think Canelo is a genuine light-middleweight too, so it's not like I'm coming up two weight divisions like Kell is against Golovkin and like Amir did against Canelo.
"I know I'm solid enough to hold my own with any light-middleweight in the world and I've wanted this fight for a while."
Smith, who flew out to the U.S. on Friday, insists he will not freeze in the biggest fight of his life against Mexican superstar Canelo at the 80,000-seat capacity home of NFL side Dallas Cowboys.
"There will be thousands there to support Canelo but I won't shrink on the night," Smith said.
"The outcome will have nothing to do with the size of the occasion.
"I'm not stupid and I'm not thinking about losing but if I lose it won't be because I froze on the night because nothing gets to me in life. I will thrive on it.
"I sparred with Amir before he fought Canelo and it helped being around a fight of that magnitude and getting used to it."