BENGHAZI, Libya — Hard-hitting light heavyweight Albert Ramirez will look to take another step towards becoming world champion when he faces Jerome Pampellone on Friday night in the co-feature at Martyrs of Benina Stadium.

Ramirez, rated at No. 6 by The Ring at light heavyweight, takes on his third fight of the year and had no issues with the relatively quick turnaround, having only fought two months ago.

"I'm very happy to be this close to fighting for a world title," Ramirez (21-0, 18 KOs) told The Ring. "I've been watching Lupe [Contreras] since I was a kid and always wanted to be announced [by him.]

"I'm killing two birds with one stone, fighting in front of Mike Tyson and these celebrity figures. I'm always training, always preparing. I was helping [Imam] Khataev for his fight with David Morrell, and once the news came that I had the fight, I had to take it, I had to go for it."

The event headlined by Mirco Cuello-Sergio Rios will be broadcast on DAZN (2 p.m. ET/ 7 GMT).

The 33-year-old Venezuelan southpaw recognizes the potential threat his opponent presents.

"Pampellone is an obstacle in my way towards a world title," Ramirez said. "I know he's going to put pressure on me, there's going to be risks involved in fighting Pampellone.

"I prepare for all fighters. I look at every opponent as if they are [Artur] Beterbiev, [Dmitry] Bivol, [David] Benavidez."

To that end, he hopes to entice one of those three into a fight with him.

"That is the goal. I'm hoping it will happen this year," Ramirez said. "If it doesn't happen this year, the only thing I can say is, it's going to be worse for them, I'm going to be more prepared to face those types of guys."

Pampellone (19-2, 12 KOs) was born in England but moved to New Zealand when he was 10. He got into amateur boxing, won three New Zealand national titles and fought at the 2019 World Championships but lost at the quarterfinal stage. He turned professional in December 2020.

Since then, the 29-year-old holds win over Faris Chevalier (UD 10), Mose Auimatagi Jr. (TKO 1) and former world title challenger Rogelio Medina (TKO 10). However, he endured a tough 2024, with close defeats to Malik Zinad (MD 12) and Conor Wallace (SD 12).