Darryl Cunningham is looking forward to trying to create an upset when he goes up against fellow American Andre Dirrell (Cunningham 10/1, Dirrell 1/25, Draw 33/1 Bout 3 Way) in California on Friday evening.

The 37-year-old had been set for a crack at facing WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, before his opponent pulled out of the bout after failing to agree a financial package.

As a result, 28-year-old Dirrell, who has returned to boxing after pulling out of the Super Six in October 2010 due to neurological issues, agreed to face Cunningham as he looks to get a foot on the ladder to a bigger fight in the future.

It is set to be the biggest fight in Cunningham’s nine-year professional career and he is hopeful that a big step-up in the quality of his opponent can help him raise his game.

Cunningham told fightnews.com: “I am thankful that Andre Dirrell and his people accepted this fight. It gives me the opportunity to show my skills to the world.”

Dirrell, who won the middleweight bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, holds a record of 19 wins (13 KO) in 20 professional fights, with one loss to Britain’s Carl Froch in 2010.