Michelle Preston may not be a household name to many sports fans, but on Friday, she will seek one of the most iconic belts in fight sports.
Preston is fighting for the WBC Superflyweight title, the first time such a prestigious belt has been contested in New Zealand.
The bout is even more significant, because it's her last fight before retiring.
It has provided a moment of reflection for the British-born Kiwi, to the time she first took up kickboxing, when she was just 14 years old.
"I worked at a takeaway shop, after school and on the weekend," Preston said. "The owner's mate did Thai boxing, I went to watch him one night and I was like 'yea, I can do that'.
"I went and did a class, and four weeks later, I had my first fight, which actually was against a boy, because there was nobody at that time at my weight and female.
"I won."
Preston's gone on to become one of New Zealand's most-decorated kick boxers.
The superflyweight fighter has won three Muay Thai world titles and many divisional belts in both kickboxing and boxing.
It hasn't been without a few broken noses, hands and even an ACL reconstruction, but it's also had its advantages.
"I'm the same weight now as when I was 14, so it's certainly kept me healthy," Preston said.
But the now-39-year-old's health has forced her to retire.
Persistent injuries have plagued her over the past five years, a large contributing factor in her decision to throw in the towel.
Add in the fact that she works full-time and is a mother of a three-year-old daughter; Preston is ready to step out of the ring.
Preston faces Fani Paloumpi from Greece on Friday (NZT), with the WBC World superflyweight belt on the line and she hope it serves as a swansong for her career.
"Everybody dreams of that knockout, don't they?" she said. "That's what I'll be aiming for."
And this will be her last shot at it, as she hopes to leave the sport she loves as a champion.
Watch the video above for the full story.
Newshub.
