Jai Opetaia declares he's a "way better, upgraded" fighter as he finally gets his opportunity to make his long-awaited first defence of his world cruiserweight title in London.
The Sydneysider admits he feels like he's in "enemy territory" as he prepares to face unbeaten English contender Jordan Thompson at Wembley Arena, but says he's ready to "go to war" to protect his own perfect record in the contest for the IBF and The Ring titles.
It's been a long, frustrating 15 months for Opetaia, who's had to endure injury concerns, surgery to his jaw, legal wrangles and fights falling through since outboxing champion Mairis Briedis in Queensland in July last year.
But he feels all the setbacks have hardened him for Saturday night's (Sunday AEDT) duel, for which he's been installed as hot favourite, even by British bookmakers, against the towering Thompson.
"Honestly, I feel like I'm a way better version than when I walked into the ring with Briedis," Opetaia told reporters in London.
"I feel like I'm growing physically, mentally and just experience in life moments. It's been good. I just haven't had the platform to show the growth, that's what I've been missing.
"But on Saturday we show it."
At Friday's weigh-in, 30-year-old Thompson, an unusually big cruiserweight at 198cm who's yet to taste defeat in 15 contests but hasn't faced anyone in the Australian's class, towered over Opetaia in the obligatory pre-fight eyeballing, giving a feel for the size of his task.
"How does Jordan makes cruiserweight? He came in just a pound under," said incredulous promoter Eddie Hearn after the Mancunian tipped the scales as 14st 3lb, just one pound under the cruiserweight limit, with Opetaia at 14st 2lbs.
"He's massive, he's a giant."
Size isn't everything in boxing, of course. There's nothing on Thompson's eight-year resume that comes close to Opetaia's accomplished and exceedingly brave triumph over Latvian Briedis - the Aussie's 22nd straight win - when he overcame a broken jaw to prevail.
And he reckons he's emerged stronger, steelier and hungrier after the subsequent surgeries, including one to his shoulder, and the restorative lay-off he's had.
"The surgeries, they're upgrades, they're new parts to a car to me. My jaw's stronger now. My shoulder's better, I got a new left hand, my power's coming back. I don't think of them as chinks in an armour, I feel so much better, they're upgrades.
"I'm feeling good, man. Like I feel I'm here in enemy territory, against all odds. Even though I'm the favourite going into the fight, I'm here stepping out of my comfort zone. And I'm here to get the job done.
"Just because I'm the world champion doesn't mean I haven't got much to chase. Just because I've got a fancy belt doesn't mean I've accomplished everything I want to accomplish.
"Briedis is old news. This is the new goal. I'm going to war, man. I've trained so hard, I've prepared so well. He (Thompson) really hasn't fought anyone. He's never been tested so we don't know what he's like in deep waters - but we'll find out."
Thompson, unsurprisingly, talks a good fight too. "I believe I'm a step up for him, he ain't ever fought nobody like Jordan Thompson. That I can assure you," says the man who's not just a namesake of the Australian tennis player but actually used to be a bit of a tennis star himself as a junior before turning to boxing at 18.
