Patrick Hyland says winning a world title for his late father would be a dream come true.

The Irish featherweight, who lost Patrick Hyland Snr to depression last June, takes on WBC champion Gary Russell Jr this weekend, live on Sky Sports.

Hyland's father trained him and his brothers Eddie and Paulie and in an emotional pre-fight press conference, he said winning the world title would be the best way to pay tribute.

"It's massively important for my father and the Hyland name alone," he told Sky Sports.

"To finally win a world title would pay off and to look up and say 'dad, I did it' would be just... I'd be over the moon. It'd be a dream come true.

"He trained us all through our lives, since we were kids, he brought us up as pros and never missed a fight. He's always in my corner

"He died from suicide and from depression and it's hard to keep an eye out for that. I support the suicide prevention people and that is a major part for my family - we've been through it and it's tough.

"It's for my dad, for my brothers, for my wife and kids, that's all I'm about and that's all I want to win this title for."

Russell Jr  (26-1, 15KOs), whose father also trains him, was full of sympathy for Hyland (31-1, 15KOs), but is still the strong favourite despite being out of the ring for more than a year through injury.

A cut sustained in sparring has been the latest problem but Russell Jr can now finally defend his title for the first time since stopping Jhonny Gonzalez last March.

"I feel for his situation because my dad is my coach and that's one of my best friends," he said.

"It might motivate him even more to push even harder but that has nothing to do with the fight - he still has to get past me.

"We're definitely entertainers and it's going to be an entertaining fight. Any opponent that has six to eight weeks to prepare for nobody else but you is a dangerous opponent. I'm pretty sure he's 100 per cent ready and he's going to need it."

Hyland says his game plan is to stop Russell Jr getting into a rhythm and believes he is strong enough to do that.

'The Punisher' would become Ireland's first featherweight champion since Barry McGuigan 30 years ago and is determined to put his name into the featherweight mix.

"It would be amazing to become a world champion," he said.

"Lee Selby won last weekend, Josh Warrington is fighting on the same night, so there's some great, great featherweight fights on the UK shores - and to get them back in the UK or Ireland, would be great for everyone."