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Underdog Christian Tsoye has been left seething after playing second fiddle to Paul Gallen ahead of his Australian heavyweight title showdown with Justis Huni.
Christian Tsoye is vowing to spoil Justis Huni's party after being sensationally snubbed at Tuesday's weigh-in at the Sydney International Convention Centre.
Tsoye's camp was fuming after the Melbourne-based Cameroonian was asked to pose for the pre-fight stare-down in front of a banner promoting Huni's blockbuster bout next month with Paul Gallen.
Tsoye's trainer Christian Ennor was having none of it.
"That's not our fight,"" Ennor said before demanding the two combatants instead face-off for the cameras in front of a blank backdrop.
Even Huni was left bewildered, and Tsoye is promising retribution in Wednesday night's Australian heavyweight title showdown.
"Knockout," Tsoye said when asked what was going to happen to Huni.
"I come for the knockout."
Huni, though, obviously has other plans, saying he wants to win emphatically to send a message to Gallen.
"I'll take care of this fight first, then I'll worry about all of the Gallen stuff after that," Huni said.
"Obviously he (Tsoye) is going to come with a shot. He's a really tough opponent, very credible, so I respect what he's done so far.
"But I'm coming in to box and show everyone what I've got, what I can do.
"Gallen's going to be in for a bit of a surprise."
Huni has won all three of his professional fights by knockout and is the only boxer in 120 years to have claimed the national heavyweight strap on his pro debut.
The fight will be fan-free after a COVID-19 scare scuppered plans for it to be staged at Fox Studios.
"This is for the Sydney media to have the opportunity to see how good Justis Huni is and how mad Paul Gallen is to get in the ring with him," said promoter Dean Lonergan.
"But it's fair to say Christian Tsoye will be a durable test for him.
"He's never been stopped in his pro-fight career. He's six foot tall, he's coming in at 104kg, he is tough and built.
"He comes in prepared and ready to go so we expect the best Christian Tsoye we can get."
Huni will also chase Olympic glory this year in Tokyo.
The 22-year-old is well aware of the high stakes he's fighting for over the coming two months but insists he doesn't feel pressure to deliver.
"I always get nervous before a fight from the hype and stuff but I've learnt to take it all in and just embrace it because this is what I've worked so hard for and this is pretty much what I've trained my whole life for, these moments," he told AAP.
"I try and keep it as positive as I can. This is where I'm supposed to be and this is what I'm supposed to be going through right now."