Will it be third time lucky for Michal Cieslak?

The 36-year-old Pole has come up short twice when previously contesting cruiserweight world titles. Ilunga Makabu outpointed him for the WBC belt in the Congo five years ago, before Lawrence Okolie dropped him en route to the same result two years later in London for WBO honours.

This time Cieslak will travel to Canada, where he'll face veteran former light-heavyweight titleholder Jean Pascal for the vacant interim WBC cruiserweight title on Saturday at Place Bell in Laval, Canada.

"I'm extremely happy and excited," Cieslak (27-2, 21 KOs) told The Ring through Michał Koper. "I can't wait to fight for the title, I'm buzzing. Third time's a charm!"

Cieslak, who had claimed the European title three fights after defeat by a then-unbeaten Okolie, appeared primed to work his way back up the ladder before injury curtailed a big opportunity to defend the strap against Isaac Chamberlain on the undercard of Chris Billam-Smith vs. Richard Riakporhe 2 at Selhurst Park, a London football stadium 12 months ago.

Jack Massey stepped in and surprised Chamberlain with a 12-round unanimous decision win, before parlaying that upset into a short-notice assignment against Ring/IBF titlist Jai Opetaia in Riyadh four months later. Cieslak meanwhile, has toiled in obscurity on the world scene of late.

"It's been a hard time, but the most important is that finally my title fight is confirmed," he said. "It's hard for me to find motivation for all these tune-up fights. The title fight is the different story. I've got my motivation, I feel the energy."

Cieslak has nothing but good things to say about Pascal, welcoming the opportunity that lays ahead.

"I've got a lot respect for him as a fighter, he's experienced, I simply couldn't have imagined a better scenario for me," he continued. "I'm happy for this challenge. Again - I can't wait, man! Some people say I am favorite in this fight, but I don't think about it. All I care [about] is to be in top shape, to win that belt."

The two-time world title challenger has prepared in Spain and Poland before heading to America under the watchful eye of Andrzej Liczik.

He feels that will give him the best opportunity to become champion when he faces Pascal and isn't bothered about being the away fighter again. After all, it's normal for him.

"I don't care where the ring is," he explained. "There will be a lot of my Polish fans in Canada, but I focus only on my training camp. Fans can help you in some way, but it's the boxer who actually fights in the ring.

"I want to win this belt on June 28! I don't want to feel again the way I felt after Okolie fight when I was ashamed to go to my grocery store because I felt I disappointed my fans, my neighbours. The plan is to win on June 28, and then on July 5, get married as a WBC champion."

Pascal (37-7-1, 21 KOs) was a standout amateur, who claimed gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and also represented Canada at the 2004 Olympics. He has been a professional for 20 years, operating in world class since 2009 when he won the WBC title by outpointing Adrian Diaconu and subsequently making four championship defenses.

However, defeats by Bernard Hopkins (UD12), Sergey Kovalev (TKO8) and Dmitry Bivol (UD12) suggested his time at the top table had ended. To his immense credit, 42-year-old Pascal has since revived his career by posting victories over Marcus Browne (TD8), reigning titleholder Badou Jack (SD12) and Fanlong Meng (UD12), though enters this contest after a 12-round decision defeat by Michael Eifert in their IBF light-heavyweight title eliminator.