Tuesday 26 April 2016 13:03, UK
Tony Bellew readily admits he'll be left in tears on May 29 but has warned fellow world title challenger Ilunga Makabu they'll be tears of joy.
Makabu (19-1-KO18) is confident of silencing Bellew's boisterous Liverpool support and clinching the vacant WBC world cruiserweight crown - and went further in tipping Bellew to be crying by round three.
But Bellew (26-2-1-KO16), remains unfazed by the Congolese fighter's threats and has no doubt his dream of becoming a world champion will be realised in front of his home-town crowd.
'Bomber' told Sky Sports: "He's probably right; there'll be tears of joy when I lift the WBC world title. I'd like to wish him luck in preparation but I've heard all this before. I heard it from Isaac Chilemba - that I'd end up crying. Once again, there were only tears of joy.
"May 29 will be my night. I will be victorious. I don't know how or when but it'd take a rocket launcher and 20 men to beat me at Goodison Park on that night.
I don't really do much studying on fighters any more because I hit them and they completely change their game plan.
"I don't really do much studying on fighters any more because I hit them and they completely change their game plan, but I've seen Makabu against Thabiso Mchunu and Eric Fields. He's good. He's skilful, powerful and slippery. He's lazy in patches but he's a good fighter.
"I've learned all the way through my career. I learned a lot from the Adonis Stevenson fight but you can't do what you want in a boxing ring when you're two stone below the weight you should be. I've learned a lot.
"I've fought and beat some fantastic guys - former world champions, No 1 contenders, European champions. I've won an awful lot in my career and it's all set for this night. I'll become world champion.
"It seems like everything happens for a reason. I've been waiting for a long time for this world title shot at cruiserweight. I haven't had it easy as a cruiserweight. I went and outworked Nathan Cleverly at cruiserweight.
"From there, I had a couple of warm-up fights after making the movie and then went in against Mateusz Masternak in a real crossroads fight. He had world ambitions of his own, was younger and more experienced. I dealt with him and was probably 10 seconds away from stopping him.
"That was my coming-of-age fight that night. I showed everybody what I'm about and how much of a threat I am at cruiserweight. This one against Makabu is once again a career-defining fight."
Makabu is unbeaten since his very first professional bout back in 2008 and has knocked out all but one of his opponents since.
