Oleksandr Usyk is not worried by the size advantage held by Anthony Joshua ahead of their fight this weekend.
Joshua puts his IBF, WBA and WBO belts on the line on September 25 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against the 34-year-old Ukrainian former cruiserweight champion.
Usyk’s experience in a lighter division has led to speculation that he will not be offer enough of a punching threat to the 31-year-old Briton, while he will struggle to cope with the size and strength advantage people attribute to Joshua.
"I'm not trying to prove anything to anyone," Usyk to Sky Sports.
"I'm very grateful for the support I receive and everything else, but people place way too many expectations on athletes.
"This is because many of them don't really understand what happens in the ring and how difficult or, on the contrary, easy it is.
"People just have this notion they've thought up themselves."
Usyk pointed to his 12-round victory over Derek Chisora last October as evidence he can cope with bigger fighters.
"As for the fact that I went 12 rounds with Derek (Chisora), he's actually a really tough guy," said Usyk.
"If you look at his fights, Tyson Fury went 12 rounds with him; many top athletes have gone 12 rounds with him.
"A lot of people think Derek is some kind of pushover; he's a monster who always puts in 100 per cent.
"He doesn't care, he answers to no one. He just goes out there and puts in the vicious work he does.
"The fact that people don't understand me, well, please forgive me.
"I will try to be clearer so you understand me.
"We'll probably find out in the first round which will prevail: power or skill.
"No, it doesn't annoy me [questions about size], absolutely not.
"Like I said, there's a lot people don't know, see or understand."