Kirkby-based Serbian middleweight Geard Ajetovic has vowed to go "toe to toe" with Matthew Macklin when the two men meet in Birmingham on Friday night.
Ajetovic, 27, goes into the fight against the Midlands native on the back of two defeats, including a failed IBO World title challenge to Daniel Geale.
He told BBC Radio Merseyside: "I believe in myself and we'll see on the day who is better.
"I know what I've got. He knows what he has, so we're going to go toe to toe."
Ajetovic and Macklin meet in a 10-round contest on the under card of Don Broadhurst and Issac Quaye's Commonwealth super-flyweight title fight.
Ajetovic is aware he is yet to reach the heights in the professional game that his amateur record suggested he could be capable of.
As an amateur he boxed for Serbia and the former Yugoslavia for 14 years, winning 11 national titles and competed at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
"Everybody is saying after the two defeats 'oh he is finished, he is going out and drinking and partying'"
As a professional his current record is 16 wins from 20 contests, with three defeats and one draw.
After recent points defeats by Geale and Russia's Dmitry Pirog, Ajetovic has dismissed suggestions he is not suited for life in the paid ranks.
"Everybody is saying after the two defeats 'Oh he is finished, he is going out and drinking and partying'.
"It's not like that and I'm going to prove to everyone that I've got quality."
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