Kal Yafai has been backed to topple a legend of the sport when he returns to the ring later this month.

The Birmingham super-flyweight holds the WBA world title at the weight and will put his unbeaten record and belt on the line on February 29.

Yafai, who is a former British, Commonwealth and European champion and has now made five successful defences of his title.

But the clash against Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, who was once an idol and has now become a rival, is by far his toughest test to date.

And Yafai will come out on top at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, according to his domestic rival Charlie Edwards.

“Most definitely, I think he can beat him,” the former WBC flyweight champion said when speaking at the launch of MTK Academy. “I do think it’s a 50-50 fight but I’m edging towards Kal, solely because timing is everything in boxing.”

Edwards, prior to winning global honours down at flyweight, was the British champion at super-flyweight and long had designs on a clash with the 30-year-old, who is one of Britain’s longest-reigning world champions.

“‘Chocolatito’s’ been very inactive and this is Kal’s fight to go bang,” Edwards, who is managed by MTK Global and is set to return to the ring on a date to be confirmed in April at Bethnal Green’s famous York Hall venue, continued. “This is the first fight where people are actually taking an interest in Kal because Gonzalez has got a name and, although he’s world champion, he’s had quite a smooth run through with defences and has gone under the radar.

“He’s his rival but he was once his idol and Kal is really going to want to prove a point to himself and I think that will make him train that little bit harder but I do believe that the time is right for him to get the win in this one.”