Australian George Kambosos has declared he's in the best shape of his glittering career and ready to walk through fire to defeat Vasiliy Lomachenko and cement his status as a boxing legend.
Lomachenko and Kambosos face off at a packed RAC Arena in Perth on Sunday, with the winner to walk away with the vacant IBF lightweight world title.
Kambosos shot to international fame in 2021 when he won the IBF, WBA and WBO lightweight belts by stunning Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden.
But back-to-back losses to Devin Haney - combined with last year's unconvincing and controversial win over Maxi Hughes - have raised questions about whether Kambosos has lost his magic touch.
Kambosos has assured fans not only is he back, he's better than ever.
"Look, the Hughes build-up was a bit of fun. A quick tune-up fight, not real big motivation. My focus was on something else," Kambosos told AAP.
"I'm coming up against Lomachenko now. I've prepared like a man possessed.
"I've had the best preparation of my life. Better than when I beat Lopez for all the belts.
"It's the best I've ever felt, the best I've ever looked."
The mind games were on full display on Thursday when the stare-down between Kambosos and Lomachenko lasted for more than three minutes, with neither boxer willing to be the first to look away.
Kambosos enters Sunday's bout as a huge underdog, and it's a tag he's embracing.
The 30-year-old predicts he will win and send Lomachenko into retirement.
"I love being the underdog. I do my best work when I'm the underdog," Kambosos said.
"There's a lot of pressure on him. His whole career is on the line.
"I'm extremely motivated. I've had a tremendous camp.
"My will is bigger than his right now, and I'm ready to do whatever it takes.
"I'm ready to walk through fire. Let's see if he is."
Kambosos (21-2, 10KOs) believes a win over Lomachenko would cement his spot in boxing's Hall of Fame.
"Legacy is the most important thing for me," Kambosos said.
"The belt is not really my concern. I've got all the belts at home - what am I worried about another belt?
"For me, it's legacy and beating a legend."
Lomachenko (17-3, 11KOs) was non committal when asked what a win or loss would mean for his career.
"I'm just looking forward to the title, the IBF title," said the 36-year-old, who boasts an incredible 396-1 record at amateur level.
"After, I can think about my future.
"I don't know what happens after this fight. I don't know how my body will be."
Lomachenko was due to face Kambosos in 2022 but scrapped the fight so he could return to Ukraine and defend his country against Russia's invasion.
The undercard of Sunday's event will feature two title bouts.
Australian Andrew Moloney will take on Mexican Pedro Guevara for the interim WBC super flyweight title.
In the women's WBA bantamweight battle, Australian Cherneka Johnson will be aiming to strip England's Nina Hughes of her belt.
The heavyweight non-title bout will pit former WBA world champion Lucas Browne (31-5, 27KOs) against Kiwi Hemi Ahio (21-1, 16KOs).
