You'd be forgiven for asking whether anyone in boxing, let alone Tyson Fury's fan base, has ever heard of his next opponent.

He really is an unknown scrapper, which is surprising when you learn that the Macedonian-born (formerly Yugoslavian) now based in Switzerland, but representing Albania, has been walking the earth for 39 years.

Surely we'd have heard of him if he was any good?

His record is 21 wins by knockout from 23 professional fights, with just the one loss, which came against Manuel Charr back in 2016.

But, the list of his accomplishments in the ring doesn't speak of a talented pugilist. 

However, he's back to bob and weave on the canvas as a likely slow-moving punching bag for Tyson Fury on June 9, his first fight back from his two-year ban. 

And, like all good scrappers, he's pretty confident that he has the talent, power, and chin to upset the Gypsy King. 

Nicknamed "the Real Deal" - Seferi is an orthodox boxer whose career has been spent predominantly fighting in the cruiserweight division, so the match-up with a rejuvenated Fury will be a tough day at the office.

But, he's confident. In an interview with Boxing News, Seferi spoke candidly of the job in hand.

Already billed as a rank outsider with no chance of upsetting Fury at the Manchester Arena, his interview was typical of a boxer trying to prove his mettle.

Asked about critics calling him a 'soft touch', he responded: "People can say what they want to say. I have proved in the past, in my fight with Manuel Charr for example, that it is not so easy to knock me down or to knock me out.

"This fight, all the pressure is on Tyson Fury and you will see on June 9 what I can do.”

That is directly to the point; what can he do?

The Albanian is significantly shorter than the Manchester-born Fury, and has a much shorter reach, so it really does underline the question whether he can trouble the Brit?

“I will beat him with my lion heart! I’m Albanian and we are simply born to fight. Maybe I will not be able to push him back in the ring, but I know I have the power to knock him out. I know I can knock him out. As to how I will deal with Fury’s height and reach, all I can say is, you will see on June 9!”

Certainly fighting talk.

Fury will want a good test to see where his conditioning and ring-craft have him. He will be rusty and need a good blow out. For all his faults - largely outside of the ring - Tyson Fury is a good fighter. At 6' 9", he's an impregnable fortress on legs. He has a good chin, plenty of power, and even his detractors acknowledge that he has technical skill.

Asked whether he has a solid enough chin, Seferi responded: “Yes, no doubt. You will see June 9 my chin is strong enough. Yes, he is one of the best heavyweights in the world, but I have never been stopped and again, all the pressure is on him, not on me.”

The trouble with hastily convened fights and opponents plucked off the shelf to provide opposition, is that they're invariably 'underdone'. When quizzed by Boxing News, Seferi was, perhaps, a little predictable, a little too well rehearsed.

“I began training for the fight two weeks ago, but I am always in what I call training mode. I am always in good physical shape and in the gym. No way am I at all worried about coming there for the fight – I’m really looking forward to coming to Manchester. I look up to Fury, he is a living legend and it is a big honour for me to fight him. When I beat him I will give him a rematch.” 

All boxers talk up their chances. It's in the job description, but this may be just bordering on the edge of credibility.

He will find the match-up against Fury anything but equal. The man who took Wladimir Klitschko's title is seemingly pumped up to challenge for higher honours once again.

And that could spell a very short introduction to the Manchester Arena for the natural born fighter, and he'll be needing more in his arsenal than a Lion Heart!