Rising Kiwi heavyweight Junior Fa will look to continue his march up the division's global boxing rankings when he takes on journeyman Dominick Guinn.
Still undefeated at 17-0, Fa will square off with the American on the undercard of an IBF world lightweight title fight between Richard Commey and Raymundo Beltran in Palm Springs, Florida on June 28.
The 44-year-old Arkansas native is a battle-hardened veteran with 19 years of professional experience behind him. He's renowned for his durability and has never been knocked out in his 48-fight career.
A legitimate title prospect in the early 2000s, Guinn has fought the likes of James Toney, Hughie Fury - who Joseph Parker edged in a close decision win - and Monte Barrett, who took on NZ great David Tua on a couple of occasions late in his career.
Boasting a 37-12-1 record, he should provide the kind of quality rounds that Fa needs to prepare for what seems an inevitable push into the upper echelon of the division.
"I just need to keep myself tidy and do the small things right, because he's very experienced," Fa told Newshub. "Which basically means he brings a lot of skill and he's seen a lot of different styles.
"He knows how to take fighters into deep water, so I have to make sure I've got myself physically fit and mentally fit to go the 10 rounds, if I need to."
The bout will be Fa's fifth in the past 15 months and the 29-year-old views it as another ideal opportunity to prove his mettle, as he seeks his third consecutive knockout victim.
"If I take him out early, I'm the first guy to do that. If he lasts 10 rounds, then I have those 10 rounds underneath my belt."
Fa is fresh off his second training camp with Deontay Wilder in Alabama, where his time as a sparring partner for the American heavyweight superstar has sharpened him both mentally and physically.
The experience has also taught him plenty about the level of commitment required to consistently improve and he's applying those lessons back home at his base at Auckland's renowned City Kickboxing.
"My lifestyle and my professionalism to the sport have really changed," Fa admitted.
"Before, I'd show up to the gym if I had a fight coming up, but since I've been there, there's been a different approach and I'm constantly turning up, whether I have a fight or not."
And now that he has Guinn locked into his sights, that intensity has only increased.
"I've got something more specific that I can work on, so it makes things a bit more real. It changes the intensity of training just a little bit, because I'm a bit more focussed on what I can actually do in a fight."
While Guinn isn't a stepping stone he's taking lightly, Fa can't help but take a peek towards what lies ahead - bigger names under brighter lights.
"I think, in a couple of years, there will be much more exciting fights. I'm going to be really tested and I can't wait, because I'm training hard for those kinds of fights.
"I'm ready for whoever."
Newshub.
