Mauricio Lara is full of confidence ahead of Saturday's fight with Leigh Wood for the WBA world featherweight on February 18 live on DAZN (excluding Australia and New Zealand).
The pair engaged in a heated face-off at Wood's beloved City Ground on Tuesday night and the Mexican believes the scars are still showing from Wood's violent clash with Michael Conlan last March.
"It was a tough fight – we know that he’s damaged coming into this fight, but he’s coming to defend his title and that’s what I want,” Lara said.
“I’m grateful to him for taking this fight. We know nobody wants to face me at 126lbs for a world title but this one will happen, and we know what we are capable of doing.
"We know it’s a big fight. We know it’s the acid test. We know Leigh Wood is a great champion but I have big aspirations and a great desire to become world champion and as I’ve said, whatever it takes, I have to do it this time."
The fight will be the first time Wood walks out as the WBA's outright champion at 126lbs and in the build-up to the bout, the 34-year-old is convinced that this clash with Lara will not go distance which is something that the challenger also backs up.
"We know he’s a great fighter but it’s going to be a really tough fight for him. We know how we’re preparing, we’ve caused an upset before in his country and it will be the same on February 18.
"Believe me, if he switches off, the fight will be over quickly. It won’t go beyond the fifth.”