Ryan Garcia has denied that his meeting with Manny Pacquaio will be an exhibition display.
The 22-year-old Californian has announced a fight with the Filipino fighter-turned-boxer for later this year, a move which would require him to go up two divisions from his current lightweight classification.
Garcia, the current WBC interim champion said on social media that he would be fighting in a legitimate professional fight rather than under exhibition conditions.
He said: "I'll make it very clear. I am not fighting an exhibition.
"Let this statement go everywhere! Cause so many things are being said.
"I'm not stepping into a ring with nothing on the line. I'm fighting someone who I see as an inspiration and I'm coming to take the torch — 12 rounds with our records on the line."
Ryan had previously agreed to fight Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, preferring to meet him rather than current WBC champions Devin Haney.