WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith says his 2019 loss to Richard Liakporhe is “irrelevant” ahead of Saturday's rematch in London.
The two Britons will face off at Selhurst Park, home of Premier League football club Crystal Palace.
Billam-Smith's previous record is a split decision defeat to Londoner Riakporhe nearly five years ago, the only blemish on his 20-fight record.
“I'm different from other people in many ways,” the 33-year-old said at a news conference on Thursday.
“It's totally irrelevant because it seems as if I've become a different person, it seems as if I've gone back to who I was 20 years ago.”
“I'll be bringing all that experience of playing in a World Championship match, winning caps and being the headliner of a big show and putting in a performance there,” Billam Smith added.
“Biram Smith has his flaws.”
Billam-Smith has played in front of the Bournemouth fans in each of his previous four matches and received huge support from them.
But on Saturday, the 34-year-old Riakporhe will travel to the lion's den to fulfil a childhood dream of playing at Selhurst Park.
Nicknamed “Midnight Train”, Liakporhe saw his career stalled in 2020 after suffering a serious hand injury, but has since established himself as one of the exciting fighters in the division.
“I already know what I do in the ring,” said Riakporhe, who has won all 17 of his professional fights.
“I faced a lot of different situations in the ring, but I was able to overcome them. That gave me a lot of confidence.”
In an otherwise fairly harmonious press conference, Riakporhe hinted at a decline for the champions.
“We're starting to see a lot of gaps,” Liakporhe said, adding that Biram Smith was “more alive and fresh” in his first match.
The pair exchanged greetings, with Liakporhe's final message being “Take care”, to which Biram Smith, nicknamed “The Gentleman”, replied “Thank you”.
Talking about Disneyland and clowns as an opening act
Olympic silver medalist and social media celebrity Ben Whittaker will return to action on the undercard against light heavyweight Ezra Aleñeca for the WBA light heavyweight gold title.
“On Saturday you'll see why I'm the main event and not on the undercard,” Whittaker, 27, said.
“I'll let you go for a couple of rounds. If you start to stumble, I'll help you up again.”
Nigeria-born Alenieka, now based in Cheshire, was a relative unknown before he burst into Whittaker's pre-fight press conference last time and demanded a fight.
“I feel like a kid in Disneyland,” said Alenieka, 28, who is studying for a doctorate in business administration.
“I'm ready to prove that I'm still one of the best light heavyweights not just in the UK but in the world,” Azeez said.
In one of the most entertaining exchanges, cruiserweight Isaac Chamberlain denied opponent Jack Massey's claims that he was nervous ahead of their European title bout.
Massey promised a knockout and called Chamberlain a “clown,” to which Chamberlain responded, “You're just a big lump of a man who can fight a little.”
