Boxer Shane Cameron says he's done the hard yards and he's ready for the step back up to the heavyweight division.
Cameron faces American Monte Barrett in Auckland on Thursday night, after having fought mainly as a cruiserweight since his most publicised bout - his second-round knockout defeat at the hands of David Tua in October 2009.
He won't be at the 103.5kg he was against Tua in Hamilton that night, instead expecting to be around 97kg, a weight he's more comfortable with.
"I'm feeling good for this fight," the 34-year-old told a press conference on Tuesday.
"This is the first time I'm going to fight at this weight. I feel strong and mobile, and 12 rounds is going to be nothing."
Cameron, 34, will go in with a record of 28 wins, 21 by knockout, and two defeats.
His build-up has included a trip to London to act as sparring partner for former world champion David Haye, who is training for his own, highly anticipated grudge match against fellow Briton Dereck Chisora on July 15.
Haye knocked Barrett down five times en route to a fifth-round TKO victory in November 2008, a year before claiming the WBA world belt.
However, Barrett's 35-9-2 win-loss-draw record also includes a unanimous points victory over Tua last August.
At 41, he says he has two more fights in him and he has no qualms about queries over whether the advancing years have reduced his speed.
"Of course I've slowed, but with age comes wisdom," he said.
"I think I'm much wiser than when I was 35, 36."
While there was plenty of trash talk between Barrett and Cameron's manager, Ken Reinsfield, and Barrett couldn't see himself losing to Cameron, he professed respect for his opponent.
"I know Shane's a beast," he said.
"They don't call him the Mountain Warrior for nothing."
NZN