Tim Tszyu concedes he will be fighting to save his career after agreeing to a high-risk showdown with dangerous American Joey Spencer.
Australian boxing's poster boy will make his much-anticipated comeback from two crushing losses in the US last year in a do-or-die super-welterweight battle in Newcastle on April 6.
A third straight defeat, following a bloody 12-round split-decision loss to Sebastian Fundora then a brutal beat-down from Bakhram Murtazaliev in October, would be catastrophic for Tszyu's career.
But the former world champion will lay it all on the line against Spencer, who boasts a 19-from-20 record, with 11 of his victories coming via knockouts.
"This is the biggest fight of my career. This distinguishes where I come back and where my road will go," Tszyu said at Tuesday's announcement.
"Look, you're in this sport to test yourself at all times, so I wanted a tough challenge.
"When the fight got offered, it was a no-brainer for me. I knew I didn't want to take the long road to get back to the top. The shorter it is, the harder the opponents are.
"And I knew by taking Joe Spencer, this early, you're going to go straight back to where you belong.
"I've got redemption on my mind."
Tszyu's promoter George Rose from No Limit Boxing said their superstar charge refused to ease his way back with a pushover bout.
"Look, a lot of people in their comeback fights, coming back from a loss would choose a dud opponent," Rose said.
"Tim is a guy who wants hard fights every time, and it kills me when he does it.
"I'd love to have an easy fight where we can just walk in and he wipes them out.
"He probably still will do it anyway, but I'd love to have that thought going into it, not going into a fight where I know that he's fighting against a guy who's an absolute killer.
"This guy is a two time PBC prospect of the year, a guy who's only got one little blemish on his career, and a guy who absolutely wants to light up this division and sees this as a huge opportunity for himself."
Known as "The Small Town Soldier", the 24-year-old Spencer from Michigan is vowing to take everything away from the home favourite in so-called Tszyu-Castle.
"This fight is very important for my career, just being on the stage that it is on," Spencer said.
"Tim Tszyu, having the name that he has, a lot of people are going to be tuning in and watching this fight to see if Tim can bounce back.
"I believe that I'm going to be an underdog in this fight. But when I come in and do what I need to do to get this win, I'm definitely going be on the map in a way that I haven't been up to this point.
"I believe I can beat him because I believe I'm a superior boxer in all facets.
"Absolutely I'm coming to take him out, whether it's a decision, a stoppage, or a knockout."
