Danny Williams and Wayne Elcock face big fights in Switzerland that could define their futures in the ring on a weekend when the focus is on Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.

While 34-year-old heavyweight Williams will be determined to put his career back on track with a win over Ukrainian Oleg Platov in their clash for the IBF intercontinental title, Elcock is a huge underdog against unbeaten IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham in Basle on Saturday.

The 33-year-old Birmingham fighter, who edged Howard Eastman for the British middleweight title, is full of respect for his hard-hitting German opponent.

"Abraham is a very good fighter and earned the right to be called world champion by

beating strong opponents along the way," said Elcock.

"But I have come to Basle to win the title. It is as simple as that.

"I have a lot of respect for Abraham because he is the undefeated world champion but I have studied him carefully and I do believe I have a chance to win."

Abraham stunned the boxing world in September 2006 when he saw off mandatory challenger Edison Miranda despite fighting with a broken jaw for the last eight rounds.

Even though he lost a litre of blood and needed emergency surgery afterwards, he still got the better of the Colombian.

"As a champion, you need to be able to defy pain," said Abraham.

"Whoever wants to take my title away from me needs to be punished."

Since that fight 22 screws and two titanium plates have been holding his jaw together.

"It only bugs me when I go through x-ray scans at the airport," he added.

With his manager Wilfried Sauerland eying a unification fight against either Jermain Taylor or Kelly Pavlik next summer in America, the 27-year-old vowed to take one step at a time.

"All my focus is on

Elcock," he said.

"I know that one punch can make the difference so I have to be on alert."

Fighting on the undercard, Williams will be eager to redeem himself after falling to Matt Skelton and Audley Harrison in 2006.

The 'Brixton Bomber' bounced back with a ninth-round knockout victory over Scott Gammer and now hopes to edge Platov, who has 22 knockouts and just one defeat from 27 fights, for the IBF intercontinental heavyweight title.

"I believe Platov is a very good fighter and he proved he is world class when he defeated Henry Akinwande (in November 2006)," said Williams.

"A win would be good for my career because it will raise my profile in the world and

European rankings.

"The Harrison fight was a big mistake. I took it at 10 days notice which was stupid of me. Sometimes my eagerness to fight overrules my sense of logic and it did on this occasion.

"One thing I have learned is that I will never take a fight on such short notice again.

"The fight against Gammer was my opportunity to prove that I wasn't finished and that you should never underestimate me. I am an unpredictable fighter and I always come back when people write me off.

"I have not stopped training since April and I have kept myself in very good condition. I am hungrier than ever before for this fight."

Platov admitted he was thrilled to take on the man who beat Mike Tyson.

"I saw that fight on TV and it tells you something about the class of Danny Williams," said Platov.

"But to keep improving I have to fight and beat the best men out there."

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