China’s Yang Lian Hui wants to win an IBF title for ailing Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach this weekend.

Yang, an exciting prospect known as IK, takes on Argentina’s Cesar Cuenca for the vacant super-featherweight belt in Macao on Saturday night.

Roach won’t be at the fight. The American, who has trained 34 world champions, including Manny Pacquiao, needs back surgery and has been told not to fly from Los Angeles to the southern Chinese city.

Roach, 55, also suffers from Parkinson's disease.

Yang, undefeated after 18 professional bouts, of which he won 13 inside the distance, said on Thursday Roach had turned him into a world-class fighter.

If he wins, he will dedicate the victory to the famous trainer who took Pacquiao to titles in eight divisions.

But Yang has a huge task. Cuenca has won each of his 47 fights, but only two inside the distance.

"I have been working very hard with Freddie for the past three months so I am sad he cannot be with me now," Yang said.

"All the way he has been making me a better fighter. I want to honour him with this fight."

Yang trains at Roach's Wildcard gym in Los Angeles and said nothing would give him more pleasure than returning with a world title.

"I can't wait to see the look on Freddie's face when I walk into his gym with the belt around my waist," said Yang.

Cuenca is just a win away from matching Floyd Mayweather's 48-0 mark, and two victories shy of former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano's all-time record.

Filling in for Roach in Yang's corner will be straight-talking Australian Justin Fortune, a former heavyweight who once went five rounds against Lennox Lewis.

"Only two KOs in 47 fights? Let's face it, this guy couldn't break an egg," said Fortune, confident that Yang's all-action unorthodox approach would prevail.

"If he can't hurt him, Yang will eventually chase him down and beat the sh*t out of him," said the straight-talking Australian.

"When you know that someone can't hurt you, you have the fight."

Yang, from the north-eastern city of Dalian, is looking to become only the second Chinese boxer to win a professional “world” title. Xiong Zhaozhong holds the WBC minimumweight belt.