Ohara Davies believes he already has a psychological edge over Andrea Scarpa after suggesting his Italian opponent looked "afraid" when they first met at ringside.
The unbeaten British super-lightweight is preparing to battle Scarpa for the WBC silver title this Saturday night at Wembley Arena, live on Sky Sports.
Davies has already crossed paths with the champion when they both attended Gennady Golovkin's win over Kell Brook in September and believes he spotted signs of vulnerability in Scarpa.
With 11 stoppages in 13 wins, the Londoner has shown he is a big puncher, and insists Scarpa should be intimidated by him.
Davies told Sky Sports: "I saw him at the Golovkin fight. He was sat at ringside and as I walked past him, he looked afraid, totally afraid. I think that was when Eddie Hearn first offered him the fight against me.
"I feel that's the same kind of energy I'm going to get from him on the head to head. I think he's afraid, but he's just going to come and give it a go and get beat.
"My only message to him is that he should be afraid. Come here, get ready to get knocked out, and get on the flight back home."
Tommy Coyle has withdrawn from a domestic clash with John Wayne Hibbert, meaning that Davies has been pushed higher up a packed bill in the capital, and the 24-year-old is determined to enhance his growing reputation.
"It is my time to shine," said Davies. "With that fight now being off the bill, I'm now definitely the main event.
"The whole experience of being in a big fight, a 12-rounder, is new to me but that's what really pushes me on and makes me perform even better.
"The more pressure they put on me, the better I'm going to perform. It's not something I will shy away from, it's something I will embrace."
Ohara Davies v Andrea Scarpa is part of a busy Wembley Arena bill, which also includes the professional debut of Katie Taylor, Martin J Ward v Ronnie Clark, and Ben Hall v Carson Jones, with live coverage starting at 8pm on Sky Sports 2.