Michael Pirotton has a stark warning for Johnny Fisher ahead of their fight on September 26.
The Belgian heavyweight will travel to London to box popular puncher Fisher at the Copper Box Arena, live on Your Site.
He knows he will be lightly regarded. Pirotton has been defeated twice before and Fisher is a high-profile name in the division.
"I'm the exact opposite," Pirotton told Your Site. "He has the best promotion, the best trainers since the beginning and all that and I've been doing it my own way since the beginning. I had to go through the dirty part of the business."
But he is adamant that underrating him is a perilous mistake. Fisher himself is far from invincible. He has not won on UK soil for over two years. He struggled with Dave Allen and then was stopped by him in their rematch. Fisher was clipped and seemingly buzzed too in his most recent victory over Ivan Balaz in December.
Pirotton has never been dropped or stopped.
"I took two losses. I know the losses were meaningful to become the man I am today. I know these losses came from outside the ring, not really inside. Maybe if I didn't have those setbacks I wouldn't be able to believe in myself so deeply like I am now," the Belgian insisted.
"I think that's how I'm going to prevail over my opponent on the 26th. Because I know his mind is broke and he's facing too much pressure for himself. He can act tough and cocky and all that but he's never been through what I've been through.
"I've been broken, broken, broken again and still I rose. I'm still here. I know people don't know me. It would be naive for a guy like me to hope people won't make fun of me."
He has noted online jibes, which even prompted him to find out what Piriton, the hayfever medication was.
"I had to accept fights when I was not ready or barely training because I had to work," said Pirotton, who is priced at around 7/1 to win by bookmakers.
"Guess what, some of us are plumbers, some of us are doormen. Guess what, I've been working as a doorman at night and training in the day. People make fun of you, but it's my price to be able to keep living the dream.
"The way to beat Johnny is to outsmart the guy. I think people won't rate my boxing IQ because honestly I've never shown it properly, except in a few fights and sparring and all that.
"I've never been on such a big stage. But I know my quality. I'm ready to be embracing the moment and just be me and risk it all.
"For all the plumbers just bet on me, I see I have great odds… This is for you!"
Watch Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton live on Your Site on September 26.
