George Kambosos Jr is leaving no stone unturned as he plots a route back to the top of world boxing, starting this weekend in Oklahoma.
Just over a year ago Kambosos was flying high as lightweight world champion, before surrendering his three belts to American Devin Haney in a one-sided blockbuster stadium fight in Melbourne.
The Sydneysider failed to regain his titles in the rematch in October but Kambosos says he is hungrier than ever to again challenge for a strap.
He says he's taken his preparation to a new level ahead of his clash with England's Maxi Hughes on Sunday (AEST) in the southern state, with the headline fight an IBF world-title eliminator.
If undisputed champion Haney moves up a division as expected, the winner could be in line to take on No.1 contender Gustavo Lemos of Argentina.
Kambosos believes he will have too much class for Hughes (26-5-2, 5KO), but isn't taking the 33-year-old lightly with the Yorkshireman on a seven-fight win streak
He set up his training base six weeks ago in the US, which he said was familiar territory after fighting overseas from 2017 until the first Haney clash.
"It's been a sacrifice, away from my kids and family, to put in the hard work in Vegas," the 30-year-old told AAP.
"It's really taken me back to the old 'Ferocious', prior to winning the belts but it's also added so much to my fight game.
"It's a cliche that every fighter says this is the best camp but this really has been the best camp of my life.
"I've levelled up so much more from the fights that I've had, the (Teofimo) Lopez fight, the Haney fights, and added so much more to my artillery."
Kambosos (20-2, 10KO) has been written off in some quarters after the losses to Haney, who then went on to down Ukrainian star Vasiliy Lomachenko.
He felt it was unfair given he'd only lost twice in his professional career, to an unbeaten champion.
"I've only got two defeats and it's to the one guy and I didn't get knocked out, I didn't get seriously hurt - I went 24 rounds with a great fighter, a superior boxer whose style just didn't match (me)," he said.
"The boxing world has short memories but that's OK, you've got to continue to remind them and I will remind them this weekend that Ferocious Kambosos is back.
"I've changed as a fighter and I'm looking forward to the world seeing that."
Hughes baited his opponent this week saying he's haunted by "demons" from the Haney encounter but Kambosos said the only thing on his mind was taking down Hughes.
"I'm only focused on Maxi Hughes - I see this fight so clearly in my head. I see everything he (Hughes) tries to bring out. I have it covered.
"I will be victorious in this fight, I'm coming to stop this guy, to put a world of pain on him."
