Matthew Macklin has promised the punch that has brought him 19 inside-the-distance wins will bring the WBA world middleweight title to Birmingham.
The hammer-fisted Second City scrapper, 29, challenges for his first world title on June 25, taking on long-standing champion Felix Sturm in Cologne.
The pair, who have a combined professional record of 63-4-1 (34), met at a press conference today (May 18) in Germany and though neither man had any words of disrespect for the other, both predicted the 12 rounds would not be required.
"For me, there is no doubt i'm going to be the winner," said the two-time European and one-time British middleweight champion, 28-2 (19), from Solihull, who addressed the media in near-perfect German.
"He is a great technician but my time is now and my punch will win me this fight and the WBA title."
Emerald Isle-rooted Macklin, who is being billed from Ireland on the fight poster, is right - Sturm is a quality technician.
The 32-year-old, 35-2-1 (15), has held versions of world titles (WBA and WBO) since 2003 and was seemingly and disgracefully robbed of the WBO version against all-time great Oscar De La Hoya in 2004. He rebounded and captured the version he's worn since 2006 with a 12-round taming of New Zealander Maselino Masoe.
Since then, he has made nine successful defences over two reigns, including beatings of future IBF monarch Sebastian Sylvester, Khoren Gevor and, last time out in February, Ronald Hearns - the son of the legendary 'Hitman' Thomas. Hearns was willing and tried but didn't make it through the seventh session.
Interestingly, though, Felix has been stopped (against light-punching Spaniard Javier Castillejo - later reversed on points) and been hurt and dropped on several occasions, meaning the Brummie's dynamite-laden fists and solid skills could cause problems at the Lanxess Arena.
But Sturm, whose last three stoppage victories have all arrived in the seventh, has dismissed the threat, boasting: "I'll batter him from the first bell.
"This will be a war, but one i will win by any means necessary. We have a plan A and B. Nothing he brings will change the outcome," he added.
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