Tuesday 7 October 2014 08:26, UK
Jermain Taylor has vowed to “beat the hell” out of Sam Soliman when he faces the IBF middleweight champion in Biloxi, Mississippi on Wednesday.
Former undisputed champion Taylor has to roll back the years and win a world title again after he held all four belts following victory over Bernard Hopkins in 2005.
The American quit the ring in 2009 for two years after losing four out of five bouts at super middleweight in a two-year span.
However, Taylor returned to the ring in late 2011 and is 4-0 in his comeback, his most recent triumph a seventh-round stoppage of Colombian Juan Carlos Candelo last December.
"Things have come full circle for me. I have another shot to become a world champion and I'm not going to let this opportunity pass by without being victorious," said Taylor.
"I've made a bunch of mistakes in boxing, losing to fighters I shouldn't have because of a lack of training, but I'm ready to clear all that
"Sam Soliman is a great fighter. He has had a great career and he comes to fight, but I have to go in there and beat the hell out of him."
Soliman, who turns 41 next month, won the IBF belt with a unanimous decision over Felix Sturm last May before his rival’s home fans in Germany.
"It has taken me 20 hard years to get to where I am," said Soliman. "Being a world champion is a special feeling and one I plan on keeping. This is my first title defence and I'm leaving no stone unturned to make sure it's not my last.
The Melbourne fighter had defeated Sturm in 2013 but that verdict was changed to no contest after Soliman tested positive for the banned stimulant methylsnephrine, leading to a nine-month ban for the Aussie.
Soliman, 44-11 with 18 knockouts, has rattled off nine straight victories since losing to then-WBA super middleweight champion and fellow Aussie Anthony Mundine in 2008.
"I'm going to be stepping into the ring against a former world middleweight champion and super middleweight contender who is chasing a comeback dream," added Soliman.
"Jermain Taylor has nothing to lose and that makes him a very dangerous opponent.
"I know how dangerous that mindset is. It's the same 'all or nothing' approach that I've taken into my last 10 fights to win the title. I'm bringing the same intensity to this fight."
