Unlike lots of fighters his age, Mielnicki isn’t into talking trash on social media or criticizing contemporaries for attention. The 24-year-old middleweight contender’s confidence has grown, however, throughout a maturation process in the ring that Mielnicki thinks has steadily prepared him for a 160-pound title shot.

“We’re ready to take that next step,” Mielnicki told The Ring following a recent sparring session with Jaron “Boots” Ennis. “We’re ready for these world champions, these top contenders in the division. All the big fights interest me, from Erislandy Lara to Carlos Adames to Denzel Bentley, to the up-and-coming guys, Callum Walsh. All these guys interest me. I’m ready to take that next step and become a face of the 160-pound division.”

Mielnicki (23-1, 13 KOs, 1 NC) is ranked No. 2 among the WBO’s contenders for champion Janibek Alimkhanuly. The WBO suspended Kazakhstan’s Alimkhanuly for a year, though, after he tested positive for Meldonium in November.

That’s why Mielnicki has targeted a fight against England’s Bentley (22-3-1, 18 KOs), who won the WBO interim middleweight title when he stopped Venezuela’s Endry Saavedra (17-2-1, 14 KOs) in the seventh round April 4 at O2 Arena in London.

Mielnicki is also the No. 7 contender for the WBC belt held by the Dominican Republic’s Adames (25-1-1, 18 KOs) and the No. 8 challenger for the vacant IBF belt Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) owned before he was stripped. The Roseland, New Jersey native is not ranked among the WBA’s top 15 challengers for the title held by Cuba’s Lara (32-3-3, 19 KOs).

“There’s a reason why we’ve been working our way up these rankings, and it’s for these opportunities to come,” Mielnicki said. “I think it’s only a matter of time before I get a call for a big title fight or a big fight with one of these top guys.”

If he can’t secure a title shot next, Mielnicki would welcome a fight with Walsh (16-0, 11 KOs), an Irish southpaw and one of the faces of Zuffa Boxing. Mielnicki isn’t affiliated with Zuffa Boxing, which he realizes could complicate matters, but the fight intrigues him nonetheless.

“I respect everybody that gets in that ring,” Mielnicki said. “I believe Callum Walsh is a really good fighter, just not on my level. I’ve fought a lot better opposition. My last four fights were against undefeated fighters. But I believe it’s an exciting fight.

“Two young guys, two hungry guys that are ready to put it all on the line. I know that his name is being pushed a lot by Zuffa and Dana White. I would take full advantage of that opportunity. That fight really interests me. I feel like it’s the perfect fight for both of us.”

Mielnicki has won 15 straight fights since James Martin upset him by majority decision in an eight-round bout five years ago in Los Angeles. He settled for a majority draw with undefeated middleweight contender Connor Coyle 15 months ago in New York, but Northern Ireland’s Coyle (22-0, 10 KOs, 1 NC) tested positive for undisclosed performance-enhancing drugs and the official result of their 10-rounder was changed to a no-contest.

Mielnicki has since beaten three undefeated fighters in a row. He most recently defeated California’s Omar Ulises (15-1-1, 13 KOs) by big margins on all three scorecards April 11 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“I feel like every fight I’ve shown something I’ve got better at,” Mielnicki said. “And I believe I’m ready to take that next step. I worked my way up. I believe I’ve waited for my time. I’m patient, and I’m gonna continue to grow, continue to get better, continue to knock down whoever they put in front of me until that shot and call comes.”