Primed: Adrian Campbell, front right. Picture: DAVE TEASE
EVERGREEN Warrawong boxer Adrian "The Assassin" Campbell has vowed to give young Victorian banger Michael Zerafa a boxing lesson at the Melbourne Pavilion on Thursday night.
While Campbell, 35, has experience and ringcraft on his side, Zerafa has an impressive unbeaten record from his eight bouts, including four wins by knockout.
Campbell scoffs at any suggestion that his younger opponent is a dangerous proposition in their main-event fight for the WBC Asian Pacific light-middleweight belt.
The main event on the card is for the WBC Asia Pacific light-middleweight title and will be televised live on Fox Sports.
Australia's two-time interim WBO lightweight champion, Michael Katsidis, had been scheduled to headline the card but was forced to withdraw from his bout against Filipino Weng Haya on medical advice.
The results of CAT scans caused the cancellation and subsequently forced Katsidis into retirement.
Campbell has gone up from welterweight to light-middleweight and took the fight against Zerafa on short notice, but he is looking forward to fighting the hard hitter in their scheduled 10 rounder.
"I'm coming off a good victory," Campbell said, referring to his unanimous points win over Australian No 4 Robert Whaley at South Sydney Junior Leagues Club last October.
Taking the fight at short notice will not be a problem for Campbell.
"I was preparing for an upcoming title fight in late March versus Tim Hunt for the PABA title. So I was in the midst of training anyway," he said.
"Look, the kid's untested as far as I'm concerned.
"They've billed it as the tough, dangerous veteran versus the young, up-and-coming gun. I'm 15 years older than him.
"I'm training better than ever.
"I've got the right people in my corner, the right people behind me, my family life's beautiful, so I'm right on track."