To get his boxing world title back Jeff Horn knows simply beating Anthony Mundine in Brisbane at the end of the month is not enough.
Horn knows nothing less than a dominant victory over the 43-year-old former NRL player will do in the eyes of international opponents and promoters.
The 30-year-old's reputation took a hit in June when he surrendered his WBO welterweight title by losing to American Terence Crawford in his first professional defeat.
Many have since questioned his selection of Mundine as his next opponent, with the pair to face off at Suncorp Stadium on November 30.
"To get back on the world stage and get that world title back I definitely have to win well," Horn said.
In preparation for a likely verbal barrage from the outspoken Mundine, Horn has been encouraging his sparring partners to trash talk in the ring.
While Horn doesn't believe he can be psyched out by words, he says it's all part of ensuring he's as prepared as possible for whatever Mundine throws at him.
"The talk inside the ring really doesn't bother me ... the little words he's going to be saying to me, I'm sure I can block out," Horn said.
Horn's preparations for the Crawford fight were thrown in chaos when he initially failed to make his weight for the bout.
The Brisbane-based boxer said he's having no such issues this time and even had a playful jab at 'Choc' Mundine.
"I'm pretty much sitting on the weight now ... I don't have to cut much at all," he said.
"I have been eating a little bit of chocolate, that will make Mundine very jealous, every night I can have just a little tiny bit with a cup of tea or something."
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