Joseph Parker has rediscovered his passion for boxing, and he's ready to put on a show against Joe Joyce next month as he attempts to summit the heavyweight mountain once again.
Just over a month out from the clash, which has been a long time coming after what Parker described as "torturous" dealings with Frank Warren and Joyce's team, the Kiwi will start sparring this week.
Gruelling, battering, bruising days lie ahead, but Parker - with a smile on his face - wouldn't have it any other way.
The 30-year-old admits the feeling he has towards boxing now is different to the one following his world title victory against Andy Ruiz in 2016.
"When I was champion of the world, I wasn't as happy as I should be," he told Newshub from his Morecambe training base.
"At the time I didn't think it was mental health, but the more I speak on it and discuss it, it sort of points to mental health issues.
"Being champion of the world, not wanting to train, not putting in the work, fighting but there's no reason, no purpose. There was no want to fight, you fight because that's just what you do."
Parker lost his title to Anthony Joshua in 2018 before suffering the second defeat of his career to Dillian Whyte later that year.
Fast forward to the present day and Parker's career is on the up again, with two fights, and two victories with plenty of improvement under new coach Andy Lee.
Still only 30, he says he wants to be a two-time world champion more than ever.
Crucially, he's enjoying it.
He trains day-in day-out with, among others, Tyson Fury, basing himself in the UK, as well as making subtle adjustments to his regiment in a bid to return to greatness, including hiring a chef.
"I've only just begun to be honest," he added. "With this new set-up, and this new team and environment, I'm excited again as a fighter.
"I want it real bad now. If you speak to Andy, I'm showing it every single day. I really want it way more than I wanted it before.
"Now I can say I love fighting, I love training, I love camp life and I have a passion for it again. There's a reason why I'm fighting.
"That's for me, my wife and my kids, and my personal goals. I want to be the champion of the world."
Parker's keen to point out his goal will only come if he keeps improving and winning, with the undefeated Joyce on September 25 the next challenger on the journey. He admits after the way negotiations went, there's a bit more aggression in him than usual.
"There is a bit of fire heading into this fight because of how long it dragged on, and the dodginess with how they tried to conduct themselves with the deals and changing the terms.
"Also because a lot of people doubt that I should be ranked highly in the sanctioning bodies, a lot of people think I'm on my way out now."
With a spring in his step instead of an air of unhappiness when he trains now, the Kiwi heavyweight's out to prove his doubters wrong.
With a rematch clause in the contract, he'll have to face Joyce again in December - should he win.
No bother.
"He doesn't know what defeat is. He doesn't know what losing is. I do, and I want to be that person to give him his first defeat. To beat someone like Joe Joyce you have to be smart, physical.
"This camp again we've stepped it up a level. I can't wait for people to see what we've been working on. We're just going to beat him up. He's got a good engine and power and throws a lot of combinations, but he's in for a big surprise."
