LUKE Blackledge will be treating his first defence of his Commonwealth super-middleweight belt as a world-title contest as he prepares to fight on one of the year’s most anticipated cards.

Blackburn’s Blackledge will put his title on the line against Lee Markham at Manchester Arena on October 10.

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The 25-year-old will be defending his belt on the bumper ‘World War III’ show, which will feature three world-title fights in one night.

Blackledge watched Markham’s split-decision draw with Frank Buglioni for WBO European honours at Wembley Arena, London, in May, and he is expecting a tough night’s work in Manchester.

“He is a good fighter,” said Blackledge. “It should be an interesting fight. I thought he beat Buglioni.

“Every fight is going to be tough now because all my opponents will be at a similar level. I am going to treat this like a world-title fight because I am defending my belt.

“He is not taking my title.

“He is a come-forward fighter and very aggressive, a bit like me. My team has devised a good game plan for this fight and we will not be showing Markham the respect that Buglioni did.

“I am the champion and we will fight my fight, not his. He proved how good he is in his last fight so if I beat him then doors will open.

“I will be switched on and if I win then maybe a European shot will be just around the corner for me.”

Ranked number six in the British super-middleweight division, 168lb Blackledge attained his Commonwealth title with a win over highly rated Liam Cameron in front of his home fans at King George’s Hall on April 4.

He will put the belt on the line on a star-studded bill, which is headlined by the WBO middleweight title clash between Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders.

Terry Flanagan and Liam Smith will also fight for a world title on the night, and Blackledge knows it is a chance for him to impress in front of promoter Frank Warren.

Blackledge said: “I am defending my Commonwealth belt on the undercard of a couple of world-title fights.

“It is great to be involved in something like that. I need another good performance but I am confident — otherwise I would not put my title on the line.”

The victor will possibly get a shot at hard-hitting Londoner Buglioni following his WBA world super-middleweight challenge against champion Fedor Chudinov on September 26 at Wembley Arena.

Chorley southpaw Jack Catterall defends his WBO inter-continental light-welterweight title over 10 rounds on the same bill, against an opponent yet to be announced.