Gabriel Maestre reminded Eimantas Stanionis that he has been waiting almost 10 years to avenge the defeat the Lithuanian inflicted on him when they were amateurs.

On Saturday at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena they contest Stanionis’ WBA welterweight title on the undercard of the undisputed super-middleweight title fight between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Jaime Munguia, and on the occasion of Cinco de Mayo weekend.

When they fought at the AIBA world championships in Qatar in 2015 Stanionis earned a unanimous decision. A rematch didn’t occur at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, when Maestre, 37 and of Venezuela, hoped that it would, and he therefore revealed that he has long been biding his time.

“You think he’s the only one that’s trying to come with aggression?” he said at the MGM Grand, which staged Tuesday’s grand arrivals. “I’ve been waiting for 10 years to face this guy. Before, in the amateurs, 10 years ago, it was a close fight. I lost, and I’ve been waiting for the rematch ever since – a decade in the making, and I can’t wait.

“It’s my time to shine, because as I understand Venezuela has never had a unified champion before. I respect Stanionis. He’s a good fighter. But I’m prepared to do my thing; I want to win as before and show the world what I’m truly all about.

“Come out May 4 – you’re going to see a war. Nothing but success; fireworks in the ring.

“I want to thank everybody that came out here to support me. I want to thank God. I’m supremely motivated. So happy; so excited. This is my first time at an event of this magnitude, and it really is amazing – an awesome sight to see.”

Stanionis, 29, last fought in April 2022 when he won his title by defeating Radzhab Butaev via split decision. He had been scheduled to defend it against Vergil Ortiz in July 2023, until concerns surrounding Ortiz’s health during fight week forced Ortiz’s withdrawal.

“It’s been a very, very long time,” he said. “I’m very, very happy to be here. Everything now seems real, so I can’t wait to go into the fight.

“You know, when I was a kid I wanted to fight in Las Vegas then, at 14, and I like an all-Mexican crowd and I will bring a Mexican style and see you on May 4th.

“On Cinco de Mayo we have to come with something special, so I will do that.”