Chris Kongo ready for step up after quality sparring with Chris Eubank Jnr and Josh Taylor

Chris Kongo is looking for a step up in class after providing quality sparring to Chris Eubank Junior and Josh Taylor.

Kongo, 24, is aiming to move his record to 7-0 at Bethnal Green’s York Hall tonight.

And he has been a sparring partner for IBO world super-middleweight champion Eubank Junior’s last two title defences.

Super-lightweight Taylor defends his WBC silver belt this weekend.

“My next fight will be a step up against someone in the top-15 or 20 in the country,” said Bermondsey’s Kongo. “After a week or two of sparring with Josh Taylor my trainer Ted Bami said if I was performing like I did then it is time to step up the challenge.

“The start to my career has been better than I expected – in terms of the fights and shows I’ve been able to get on. I’ve boxed twice on major ITV shows and a Barry McGuigan one.

“I got called about sparring with Eubank before his fight with Arthur Abraham. My aim was just to go and learn. They always have a lighter guy come in to use his speed.

“I thought I held my own in the spars. The fact they keep calling me back suggests I did well.”

Clapham light-heavyweight Kirk Garvey (10-1) is set to face Sam Smith (4-0) on Mark Prior’s show in east London.