At opposite ends of the country today two of the UK's finest super-middleweights put the final touches to their plans ahead of their big clash on Saturday.
Paul Smith defends his British title at 168 pounds against James DeGale at the Liverpool Echo Arena as part of a massive PPV event, "The Return of the Magnificent Seven".
The show will mark Frank Warren's 30th anniversary in boxing, and is one of his biggest ever.
Today, speaking from his gym in Essex, DeGale said he was ready for his clash with Smith.
"It's my biggest fight since the Olympics," he declared.
"I've got the same butterflies - and the same confidence - that I had ahead of the final in China.
"Then I knew I was going to win, and it's the same for me now.
"Paul's a great guy and I have so much respect for him. But I don't see what he has got in his armoury to beat me.
"He's been talking a good fight, and seems to think that he is more experienced.
"But I had so many tough fights as an amateur, and I've been sparring hard in the gym, doing 12, 15 rounds.
"Paul will be thinking that if he can take me into the later part of the fight he's got a chance, but I'll be stronger as things go on, not weaker.
"I'm capable of knocking him out in the first round or the last round."
But Smith, who also performed a workout for the media in Liverpool today, hit back by saying: "My message to James is simple - bring it on.
"He's not faced anyone yet who will hit him back, and believe me, I'm going to be hitting him back, and hitting him harder than he's ever been hit before.
"A lot of people in the media have been saying that DeGale will win, but a lot of people are also backing me as well.
"I can see why people think it is a 50-50 fight, but in my mind, the only way James can win is if I trip over on the way to the ring and put my back out!
"He's dangerous, and has got fantastic amateur pedigree, but if I do what I can do, I will win this fight."
