A year on from Gerardo Zapata losing a world title fight to Oscar Collazo at strawweight and he's reinvented himself, three-pounds north, up at junior flyweight.

On Saturday, Zapata will look to take another step towards a second world title shot when he faces Erick Badillo in a WBC 108-pound title eliminator at Save Mart Arena, Fresno, California.

"It's a huge opportunity, a good one because it's a different organization from the one which I currently have a belt (WBO Latin American champion) so I can have two belts from two organizations," Zapata (15-2-1, 5 knockouts) told The Ring through his promoter Felix Zabala III of All Star Ring, Inc. "I feel strong and feel better fighting at 108 (than 105)."

However, the 30-year-old from Nicaragua freely admits to being in the dark with regards to what his opponent will bring on fight night.

"I'm not really familiar with him, all I know is that it'll be a good fight," he said. "I really don't like to talk about my opponents until I actually face him."

After losing to Collazo (UD 12) in a WBO 105-pound title attempt, he beat Azael Villar (UD 10) to put him in line for this fight.

"It was really important because of the draw in our first fight, which I feel shouldn't have been a draw," he said of the first fight with Villar in 2023. "I was out for revenge to show everyone who really won that fight and is the better fighter."

If the southpaw can take Badillo's unbeaten record, he will set his target on a former adversary, who now has a world title.

"I would really like to fight the WBO champ Rene Santiago to avenge the disqualification loss after the fake injury and dive he took in our first bout," he explained.

Zabala believes that his fighter has matured from previous defeats and is coming into his own and on a title charge in the new weight class.

"We feel great about Zapata's chances going into this fight," said the son of Tuto. "Last year, he lost a hard-fought decision to Oscar Collazo and now Zapata has gained the experience needed to win a fight of this caliber."

Badillo (17-0, 8 KOs) has been a professional since 2018 and has won all his fights in his native Mexico.

The 29-year-old has since beaten Neider Valdez Aguilar (TKO 5), Luis Rodriguez (TKO 10) and, most recently, veteran Miguel Angel Herrera (UD 8).

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him on X @AnsonWainwr1ght.