Nikita Tszyu says he hopes his Victorian boxing rival Benjamin Bommber doesn't embarrass himself when the pair square off at Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena.
Both 5-0, one of the youngsters will lose their undefeated super welterweight record on Wednesday night when they share the headline act with former world heavyweight champion Kiwi Joseph Parker and Queensland's Faiga Opelu.
Bommber, 21, has spent time in the US preparing with respected American trainer Rodney Crisler, who is en route to Australia after helping Devin Haney retain his belts against Vasiliy Lomachenko on the weekend.
Tszyu, the younger brother of world title hope Tim, said it would make it all the sweeter to beat Bommber.
"I find the trip to America is one of the best things for him," 25-year-old Tszyu said.
"It's one of the best things for me as well, the fact that he's dedicating himself, he's going out and getting the best kind of work, he's getting the best preparation because it means there's going to be no excuses for Wednesday night.
"I just hope he doesn't embarrass himself - he's been talking it up, he's been bringing American trainers, he's been putting in all this work and if he really s***s the bed, it's not going to be a good look for him."
Bommber fired back that Tszyu had something that he wanted - respect thanks to his boxing heritage with dad Kostya a former world champion.
"He's got the stage, he's got the name, he's got the hype about him," he told AAP.
"This fight is going to give me the respect that I know I deserve. After this fight I'm going to get it."
Sydneysider Tszyu said he'd done plenty of study on Bommber, who spent COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne sparring with Michael Zerafa and most recently beat Queenslander Ankush Hooda by majority decision.
"I've studied his most recent fights, he fought a southpaw and I judged it a draw as I gave him the first three rounds and I gave the last three to Hooda," Tszyu said.
"I've got a very good case study to work off and I've seen a lot of holes in him.
"I know the points I have to execute to exploit his weaknesses.
"I'm prepared for it to go the distance but I don't want that - I want to finish him in a statement victory I can put on a highlight reel."
