Dereck Chisora's heavyweight showdown with David Price has been 18 years in the making.
The pair clash in a crossroads fight on Saturday which could edge the winner towards a world title shot and the loser towards retirement.
Chisora was due to take on Joseph Parker before the New Zealander was bitten by a spider and forced to pull out.
But he is relishing the chance to finally test himself against the giant Liverpudlian.
"I've known him since the amateur days,” said Chisora.
"It was around 2001, 2003 and everyone wanted to be in Boxing News in them days.
"You’d open up the back page and David Price is down as the No.1 England fighter and you would think, 'Who the f* is this guy?'.
"Then one day they put a picture of him in there and I was like, 'Wow, he’s the big guy from up north'.
"I was thinking then I wanted to fight him but it never happened."
Chisora was beaten by Dillian Whyte in their rematch last December but has rebounded with victories over Artur Szpilka and Senad Gashi.
And despite being 35 and with 40 fights to his name, the Londoner has no plans to hang up his gloves.
"Retirement is for p****, I don’t want to retire," he added.
"I look at my training schedule and I beat my previous numbers, I am keeping up with the younger guys. It’s not time yet.
"I believe I can still give great fights. Some people haven’t had the opportunities I’ve had but now it’s more about fighting and giving the fans what they want.
"Hit me with a sledgehammer and I’m still coming."
