Kevin Mitchell believes his conqueror Jorge Linares is on the slide and Anthony Crolla will thrill Manchester once again on Saturday.
The last of Mitchell's three tilts at world title glory came in May 2015 at a raucous O2, where he knocked down Venezuela's Linares before being stopped due to an horrific cut above his eye.
Linares (40-3-KO27) retained his WBC world lightweight title with that victory but after one further defence was stripped due to an injury-enforced period of inactivity and now challenges Crolla for the WBA world title at the Manchester Arena.
Despite the return of 'El Nino de Oro', Mitchell believes his second visit to British shores represents nothing more than a chance for Crolla to expose his declining powers.
Mitchell told Sky Sports: "Boxing-wise, he was probably the best in the world in the weight division but technically I had him covered for power and speed.
"If I'd have boxed him before that, he was a much more rounded fighter. I think he was past his best then.
"In his day, Linares was unbelievable but I just think he's a little bit past his best. He's had a lot of inactivity, a bad hand and we all know he struggles to make weight. All that will help Crolla and play into his hands.
"When I fought him, the atmosphere was rocking and there were loads of West Ham fans in there. They were singing 'Forever Blowing Bubbles' even afterwards and it's the only fight I've ever been in that I lost but felt I'd won.
"I was ahead on the scorecards, knew I was winning and felt I had him sussed. But for that cut, I would have been world champion.
"He throws his right hand nicely and he throws it heavy. You don't see it coming. He wobbled me once but it wasn't anything I hadn't dealt with before. He didn't have anything to bother me.
"He took his time when I knocked him down. He's a seasoned pro and he's very, very smart. I hit him off my right hand and it was never a killer punch. If it was with my left hook, he wouldn't have got back up."
"I just think that this fight with Crolla has come at the right time for Crolla. Crolla is young and fresh. In my career, I lived the life wrong but Crolla lives in the gym and is healthy all the year round."
Mitchell (39-4-KO29) announced his retirement after defeat to Linares' compatriot Ismael Barroso and begins working towards his professional training licence in October.