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New York - Britain's undefeated Khalid Yafai, coming off a hand injury, defends the World Boxing Association super-flyweight title for the fifth time when he faces Dominican Norbelto Jimenez on Saturday.
Yafai, whose parents are from Yemen, fights on a Providence, Rhode Island, card also featuring hometown hero Demetrius Andrade defending his World Boxing Organization middleweight crown against Poland's Maciej Sulecki and former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker of New Zealand against Australian Alex Leapai.
"My eyes are solely on Norbelto Jimenez and I need to do a good job on him, but then I need a massive fight," Yafai said. "I haven't had that big name yet but that will come."
Japan's Kazuto Ioka won the WBO superfly crown a week ago and Mexico's Juan Francisco Estrada took the World Boxing Council crown in April but Yafai could be looking at a unification bout against Filipino star Jerwin Ancajas, who defended his International Boxing Federation crown for the seventh time last month by beating Japan's Ryuichi Funai.
Yafai, 25-0 with 15 knockouts, needs to dispatch mandatory challenger Jimenez, 29-8 with four drawn and 16 knockouts, to put himself in position for such fights despite hurting his right hand seven months ago in a unanimous decision title defense against Mexico's Israel Gonzalez.
"I was going to fight at the end of April but I had a hand injury so I've had to wait a little bit longer," Yafai said. "But it has not been too frustrating as I've been fighting twice a year and I'll be on track to do that this year too."
Jimenez makes his second attempt at the WBA crown after missing out on a draw against Japan's Kohei Kono in 2014.
"He looks tricky and awkward, game and tough as they all are from that part of the world," Yafai said. "His record is deceptive with the eight losses because he hasn't lost since 2011 so he's going to be an interesting challenger for me.
