If George Kambosos Jr wasn't 63.5kg, his bout against Jake Wyllie might be considered a real-life David versus Goliath battle.
Instead Kambosos views Saturday night's tussle in Sydney a master-versus-apprentice showdown after Wyllie pledged to end the former world lightweight champion's career.
Wyllie is talking up his chances despite only getting the call to fight Kambosos - rather than watch from the bleaches at Qudos Bank Arena - late last Sunday night.
"It was about 9:15 and I was half asleep," Wyllie recalled on Thursday.
"I was asleep and sort of rolled over. I thought, 'Jeez, who's calling me this late?'
"And it was my manager and I thought I better call him back. He said, 'George Kambosos's opponent's out. Are you willing to step up and take this on?'
"And without any hesitation, I said, yes, my word I am. I couldn't sleep for the rest of the night. It's so exciting."
Now the fearless youngster is vowing to spring one of boxing's great boilovers to deny Kambosos (21-3, 10KOs) a shot at undefeated American Richardson Hitchins in New York later this year to become a two-division world champion.
"I have true belief," Wyllie said.
"I stay active. I'm always fit and healthy so that when these opportunities arise, I can drop the hammer down.
"I'm here to do a job on Kambosos."
Wyllie has won 16 of his 17 professional fights, 15 by knockout, but Kambosos insists the 24-year-old is "out of his depth" and dreaming if he truly thinks he will beat him.
"There's a difference between fighting domestic level and having the Australian title and I've been fighting the best of the best," Kambosos said.
"People say they see holes, but there's a difference between the elite and pinnacle where I have been for so many years fighting to the level he's been fighting.
"Yes, he's got a nice knockout ratio, a good record. I respect that, I respect the kid.
"But when you deep dive on the guys he's knocked out, they are all plums. It's easy knocking out plums, let's be honest."
Kambosos is stepping up a division to super-lightweight in a high-stakes homecoming but bristled when asked if he would retire if he lost.
"I don't even think about that. I ain't losing to no Jake Wyllie, put it this way.
"You're gonna be f***ed up if you think I'm gonna lose to Jack Wyllie. Simple as that."
Two Australian women will defend world titles on the undercard.
Skye Nicolson (12-0, 1KO) will take on feisty American police officer Tiara Brown (18-0, 11KOs) looking to retain the WBC featherweight belt.
And Cherneka Johnson (16-2, 6KOs) squares off again with Brit Nina Hughes (6-1, 2KOs) in a rematch of their controversial WBA bantamweight title fight in Perth last May.
The ring announcer mistakenly gave the bout to Hughes before Johnson was awarded the strap.
"That night was rollercoaster of emotions and I have no doubt that Nina went through the same sort of similar emotions," Johnson said on Thursday.
"I just don't want that to happen again."
