Alex Winwood says the clock has run out for the WBA World Minimumweight Super Champion, and it's his time to write his name in the history books ahead of challenging for the title at Perth's HBF Stadium on Saturday night.
Winwood, who's 4-0, will touch gloves with 24-0 champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong at the weekend.
The Noongar fighter is staring at setting a record pace as the fastest Australian to a world title - an accolade currently held by Jeff Fenech, who claimed the IBF Bantamweight title in his seventh bout four decades ago.
After an impressive run over former champions and seasoned professionals to start his pro career, his Thai opponent boasts the strongest CV of anyone he's faced on the path to a title fight.
Niyomtrong - known by the ring name Knockout CP Freshmart, has clocked up 11 successful defences since claiming the belt in 2016.
Speaking at the fight's official press conference on Thursday, a more animated than usual Winwood was clear his opponent's two years out of the ring would show in front of 15,000 fans.
"I think ring rust is a genuine thing. I know personally…if you're out of the ring for a few months or out of the gym for a couple of days or a week, it does catch up to you," Winwood said.
"He is the champion, but I think Father Time is going to catch up to him, and Alex Winwood will too."
The Western Australian earlier said his preparations for Saturday, including camps in Thailand and back at home, were the best he's put together.
The men in his corner agreed.
"He's the most gifted athlete…that I've ever worked with," Winwood's trainer Angelo Hyder said on mic.
"Alex is in the same league with God-given talents as Anthony Mundine and people like Roy Jones, and he's been able to develop that through hard work, sacrifice and commitment.
"Not only will he be world champion, he'll be a role model for other people."
Hyder's previously put the work in with fellow WA-icon and world champion Danny Green - who had his own plaudits for Winwood and knows the feeling of walking out in front of a packed HBF Stadium.
"You're going to feel like you're 10 feet tall…it's an incredible atmosphere. The fans of WA really get behind their sports people, and you're a guy that they can support wholeheartedly, because of who you are," Green said to Winwood.
"He's ready to pop, I can see it, I can feel it...this guy's energy is in the right place."
Green and Hyder said their team had a weakness in Niyomtrong to exploit.
With his opportunity to answer back, the champion said he's the one with the experience, the fighter who's "stronger" and the one packing the better punch.
Winwood's fight has brought together former rivals in Green and Mundine, which "means the world" to Winwood, to have the support of "two Australian boxing icons".
He and his team, alongside and promoter and Paradigm Entertainment director Des Headland, forecast bigger fights and thing to come at home in WA after getting the job done.
"We are going to create history Saturday night as green just said He's a proud Noongar man, proud West Australian and everywhere we walk along the streets. At the moment, it's all about Alex Winwood," Headland said.
The challenger issued a clear statement for his plans.
"Most people have to fight a whole career to get their name in the history of books, and Saturday night, I'm going to write mine there too," Winwood said.
