Candidly confessing to past sins, Tim Tszyu is steeling himself for "the most important" fight of his life against emerging American Joey Spencer.
His career at a crossroad after successive defeats in the US, Tszyu desperately needs to take care of Spencer in Newcastle on April 6 to restore his record and reputation.
And he knows as much.
"I've got so much to prove," Tszyu said on Wednesday.
"I know what I bring, I know what I possess and it's just about showing it and letting the world know that we never left."
Tszyu conceded his behaving "like a c***head" cost him dearly in his brutal last-up loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev last October in Florida.
Tszyu's brother Nikita threw in the towel during the third round after Murtazaliev dropped Australia's former WBO super-welterweight champion four times with a series of massive blows to the head.
Tszyu later likened the experience to a bomb exploding in his head and now admits he arrogantly underestimated the undefeated Russian world champ.
"Looking back at it, it was a little mistake made," he said.
"If it went six, seven, eight rounds, even further, who knows what would have happened.
"So for me, it's just about not making that mistake, and boxing is a game full of inches and getting on top."
Asked what was the biggest lesson learned from his Orlando ordeal, Tszyu said "not going in like a c***head".
"Just trying to keep it nice and smart. I thought I could have taken him (Murtazaliev) out in two rounds.
"That's what was going through my head. This guy wasn't going to go past two rounds and I came in with that intensity.
"But a professional fight isn't two rounds. It's a 12-round fight and I've got to be smarter."
Victory over Spencer (19-1, 11KOs) would thrust Tszyu (24-2, 17KOs) into a likely showdown with the great Keith Thurman and back on the path towards a potential rematch with fellow American Sebastian Fundora.
It was Fundora's stray right elbow last March in Las Vegas that precipitated Tszyu's fall from grace.
The Sydney slayer had his title belt stripped after losing a split decision after fighting Fundora bravely and blindly for 10 rounds with a gashing wound left his head bleeding uncontrollably.
Tszyu appeared spooked after suffering another head clash in the opening round against Murtazaliev and suffered the consequences after trying to finish the Chechan too early.
"Maybe I just envisioned that blood straight away. Let's just hope that doesn't come, ever again," Tszyu said on Wednesday.
"Mentally I'm alright, man. Don't stress. It's all good from this side."
Tszyu knows, though, that Spencer will likely target him with left hooks like the deadly one that Murtazaliev landed on the Australian in the US.
"They're all going to be targeting the weak spot that they think it is," he said.
"It is what it is and he's coming in ready so it's going to be one hell of a fight."
