“It’s a fight that I like,” Whittaker said during a press conference Thursday. “It’s a fight that I need. When fighters come to fight like this, the best Ben Whittaker turns out.

“It’s all about activity, getting in the ring, presenting myself the way Andy [Lee, his trainer] sees in the gym. I'm a professional at heart.”

West Bromwich's Whittaker (10-0-1, 7 KOs) has made just one appearance – and accumulated less than a round's worth of activity – since signing with Matchroom Boxing in October, but there is a feeling that this is the start of a sustained push to get the 28-year-old to world level.

Whittaker was initially set to play a supporting role to Callum Smith’s light heavyweight title fight with David Morrell, but the Liverpudlian’s withdrawal through injury necessitated the promotion of his fight with Suarez into the headline slot.

Argentina's Suarez (21-4, 20 KOs) is promising to provide Whittaker with a tough night's work in the main event of a card DAZN will stream worldwide (7 p.m. BST). The circumstances have provided Whittaker with the ideal opportunity to make a statement and he is determined to make the most of it.

“What he said is cute, man. They can all talk,” Whittaker, a 2020 Olympic silver medalist, said. “They can all say they’re going to do this and that. On Saturday we’ll see. I know that obviously the plan for 2026 is phenomenal, but Saturday matters and counts.

“All he can do is walk forward with those slow-ass platypus feet and that big ass Roblox head, so all I’m going to do is go out there, look pretty, look good, listen to my team and how long it lasts, it lasts.”

Suarez, 34, gave Lyndon Arthur a hard fight in November 2023 and floored Whittaker’s British rival before being stopped himself in the 10th round. He believes that his durability and determination will be the difference and that the Whittaker project will “be over” on Saturday evening.

“You know who I am,” Suarez said. “I think my record speaks for itself. There’s no need to speculate. I’m an attacking fighter and I’m going to rough up Ben. You made a big mistake bringing me in. You’ll see I’m true to my word Saturday.”

Although his resume remains relatively thin, Whittaker’s profile is already starting to make him a target for the world’s top light heavyweights. Morrell himself wondered whether Whittaker would be able to fill in for Smith this weekend.

Whittaker, wisely, is refusing to look too far ahead.

“It’s a compliment in itself that where they are, they’re calling me out,” Whittaker said. “But at the end of the day, we’re going to get through Braian first. You can’t look past these people. On paper, he’s the best opponent I’ve fought right now. When I dust him, we’ll see.”