Australia heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana is driven by the legacy of his late grandfather to prove he is the best boxer in the world.
It is a massive goal set by a 28-year-old with a huge heart, and a record of 11 professional fights and 11 knockout wins.
His late grandfather, Teremoana Tangauru, was a man who represented everything his grandson wants to be.
The Olympian, who is also a proud Cook Islander, will wrangle with American heavyweight DeAndre Savage on the Gold Coast on August 12.
"The ultimate goal for me is to win a world title and cement my grandfather's name into history," he said.
"Obviously you have got to go one step at a time, which is Savage.
"My grandfather was a great man who talked the talk and walked the walk. I want to be a man just like that.
"So when I say I am the best in the world, I have to back it up. I know it is a bold statement, but I believe I have got the attributes to do so."
Teremoana has fought at well over 130kg in the past but is now 120kg and at his ideal weight.
"Multiple times I have fought at 137 kilos, 130 and 120. What I have found is that at 120 kilos I am agile, fast and I hit harder," he said.
Teremoana drew a lot from his Paris 2024 experience, when he became the first Australian to win an Olympic super-heavyweight fight, via a first-round knockout over Ukraine's Dmytro Lovchynskyi.
"It gave me a lot of confidence because I know I can handle myself with the best in the world, not only handle myself but flatten them on the ground," he said. Teremoana said he was ready for Savage (11-1) whose 11 wins have all been KOs.
"Savage is a heavy hitter like myself so we have got to watch out for the punches he is going to swing, but I dont think anyone can swing like 'The Thunder from Down Under'," Teremoana grinned.
"I want to make every fight a statement, which I have been lucky to do so far. So come August 12 I think someone is going to hit the floor."
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Teremoana was speaking at the Dolphins NRL side's captain's run on Friday. The club got behind him during his Olympic campaign. He supports them and will also back Cook Islands at this year's World Cup.
"It is very, very special because it is who I am. My mother is Australian and my father is a Cook Islander," he said.
"I was brought up with my father so I was brought up with Cook Islander heritage.
"It is such a small nation with a population of 15,000 so for us to be on the world stage doing boxing as well as the NRL is such an awesome achievement."
