Jamie McDonnell has not given up on fighting Rau’shee Warren, who he expects to retain his world title Friday.

American Warren (14-1, 4 KOs) defends his WBA bantamweight belt against Kazakhstan’s Zhanat Zhakiyanov (26-1, 18 KOs) at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.

“Warren will be too fast and too slick,” McDonnell told ESPN. “He will box his head off and win on points, I think.

“Zhakiyanov has Ricky Hatton behind him and I think it will be a good test for Warren because he can bang, although he’s a bit slow on his feet. Warren was a good amateur and just has too much about him.”

Briton McDonnell (29-2-1, 13 KOs), 30, holds a less prestigious version of the WBA title than Warren and was disappointed they did not meet last year.

Instead, McDonnell fought Venezuelan Liborio Solis (25-5-1, 11 KOs) and seemed fortunate to receive a unanimous points decision in a fifth defence of his secondary WBA title.

The WBA this week ordered McDonnell to face Solis again after a protest from Solis’ camp about the decision.

But McDonnell still wants to face 29-year-old Warren, from Cincinnati, who boxed at two Olympics as an amateur.

McDonnell added: “I’ve got to get the Solis rematch out the way first, but I would love to fight Rau’shee Warren or the WBC champion, Shinsuke Yamanaka, this year.

“I think we’re the top three in the division and I want to prove I’m the best bantamweight in the world. Warren is good name and I would love that fight.

“But my career has gone backwards, to be fair. Warren says he doesn’t want to come out of America, so I fought Solis and I underestimated him. I never felt in danger against him, but afterwards I saw all the criticism and it has been a kick up the backside.

“You will see a different me next time. The Warren fight hasn’t happened, even though the WBA ordered it, but hopefully it gets made later this year. First, I have to show everyone I’m better than Solis, though.”

Promotional parties for McDonnell and Solis are in negotiations about staging the fight and if they cannot reach agreement within 30 days, there will be a purse bid.