Boxer Adrian Roach has big plans in store for the new year as he prepares to compete at the World Boxing Championships in Central Asia and the Pan American Games in South America.

Roach also has an eye on qualification for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, and is putting in the hard yards to achieve the best possible results.

“Next year is what I would consider as a bulldozer year,” Roach told The Royal Gazette. “I have the World Championships in Uzbekistan in May and the Olympic qualifiers {Pan Am Games) in Chile in October, and I intend to bulldoze whoever and whatever challenges that they put in front of me.”

The World Boxing Championships will be held in Tashkent from May 1 to 14, where participants will compete for a share of the record $5.2 million in prize money.

The Pan Am Games are held from October 20 to November 5 and forms part of the International Olympic Committee’s new approved qualification system for the Paris Games after the International Boxing Association was stripped of the right to host qualification events and competitions amid grave concerns over their governance.

Crandall University student Roach is bracing himself for perhaps the biggest year of his career and, as such, is taking nothing for granted in pursuit of his objectives in the ring.

“2023 will be a defining year in my boxing career and its trajectory as it will determine whether or not I attend the 2024 Paris Summer Games,” he said. “That being said, I’m taking it very seriously and I am leaving no stone unturned.”

The 20-year-old amateur has momentum going into the new year fresh off a string of polished displays against formidable opponents, including a confidence-boosting points victory over No 1 ranked Canadian Junior Pentaqui at the “Fights in the 506” held in Canada this month.

“I’m coming off a series of good fights overseas, including fighting the No 1 ranked Canadian champ,” Roach said. “I feel that I’m rapidly improving and my team can see it as well.”

The welterweight also enjoyed success fighting in front of his own fans during Epic Entertainment Fight Night Champion cards at The Shed, in Dockyard, this year.

He secured a technical knockout over Jamaican Sanju Williams in June, which was followed four months later with a second-round stoppage of Canadian Matthew-Scott Mahar Barbara.

Roach will now look to extend his unbeaten streak on home canvas when he steps between the ropes to face Mexican Anthony Hernandez during Epic Entertainment’s upcoming Fight Night Champion on January 28.

“Overall for the fight I’m feeling extremely excited and I am confident about my ever growing skill-set,” he said.

“Preparation has gone as it always does. I train hard every day and leave it all in the gym, making sure I give my best in each session.”

Unlike during his previous two fights on island, Roach is determined to go the entire distance and inflict heavy punishment on his next opponent this time around and is delighted to again have the opportunity to fight in front of an adoring home crowd.

“The past two fighters I’ve fought at home, I’ve either knocked them out or they quit during the bout,” he added. “This fight I intend to dish out a three-round punishment. No easy way out.

“I’m always honoured to fight in front of everyone who have supported me since the beginning. It’s my way of giving back to them for their support. I showcase the best of my abilities and show how their support has helped me progress.”

The upcoming fight card in Daockyard will be headlined by the American Boxing Organisation welterweight title fight pitting Bermuda’s Andre Lambe against American Crisanto Lucio.

Southpaw Lambe stretched his unblemished professional record to six with a unanimous decision over Jose Cejai to land the vacant American Boxing Federation welterweight title at The Shed in October and secure his first title at this level.

Lambe is one of two local professional fighters on the fight card as compatriot Michael Parsons will square off against American Zeleck Ruiz in a middleweight contest.