Harvey Dykes would normally be working as a rubbish collector this week, but the unbeaten heavyweight has taken time out from his job to chase a life-changing victory over a two-time Olympic medallist.
The 30-year-old southpaw received a late call-up to be part of Saturday's Zuffa Boxing show at the Bournemouth International Centre, live on Your Site, with Dykes handed a 10-round test against Kazak knockout specialist Ivan Dychko.
Dykes, who works with respected trainer Don Charles and recently served as sparring partner to Daniel Dubois, took the fight at just 12 days' notice but is relishing the opportunity to force an upset.
"I took the week off work for this - I'm hoping to take the next month off work!" Dykes told Your Site. "This could change me and my family's life.
"Last Monday I got the phone call and they said 'will you take the fight?' and I said 'absolutely'. Straight up to Don Charles' [gym], we'd put the work in last week and got some good sparring, so I'm ready to go. I was in the gym anyway.
"Definitely the biggest fight of my career. I've got to win this one."
Dykes - one of the founders of Brighton Boxing Academy - has gone the distance in each of his seven victories but expects a much tougher test from Dychko, who won 14 of his first 15 professional fights via knockout before September's loss to Jermaine Franklin.
"I'm really looking forward to it," Dykes insisted. "I don't fear anyone - I'm not saying that, it's just my character.
"I'm the nicest guy in the world, but I've never feared a man in my life and I never will fear a man. I'm looking forward to getting in there and getting it on with him. I'm not a hard man or anything, I'm just a local bin man, but I've never feared a man.
"He [Dychko] would have saw me at breakfast and thought he has won the lottery seeing me, but it's different when you're in that ring with me - a lot of people have said it.
"I think he has slowed down a bit - that's me being honest. He's good, he's strong and his fundamentals are brilliant. He's a dog, isn't he? But I'm going to be a dog in there, so I'm going to take him to some dark places.
"I though he beat Jermaine [Franklin], you've got to take a lot away from that fight. I think he was tiring in that fight. I think I've got to get in there and kind of put in the same performance, but a bit better than Jermaine done it."
Facing a six-foot-nine giant who beat Filip Hrgovic, Bakhodir Jalolov and Zhilei Zhang in a glittering amateur career would appear a daunting prospect, but Dykes backs himself to take Dychko the distance.
"I'm not sure I'd knock him out," Dykes admitted. "I think it's going to be a long night, if I'm being honest. I think he's tough. I think he's strong,
"I think [once I get through] the early rounds, then when it gets in them deep waters, I'll know I'm ready to swim. I know he is as well, but I just believe I'll be the best swimmer of the night.
"I want to surprise a lot of people. Everyone's known my name for years, it'll just that now they're going to see it and a six-foot-nine big Kazak's going to feel it!"
Dychko's defeat against Franklin ended an unbeaten start to his pro career, although the 35-year-old believes he's fully capable of bouncing back and ending Dykes' unbeaten professional record.
"Of course, I want to be world champion," Dychko told Your Site. "I want to see my name in boxing history.
"I take big experience from my amateur career and I use it in my professional boxing. I'm excited to be here and I'm glad that I have business with Zuffa.
"I watched his [Dykes'] fight and I know his style. I have my strategy - you will see!"
The preliminary card also includes English prospect Leon Hughes looking to continue his perfect start to life in the pro ranks when he takes on Bulgaria's Mario Vergiev, while a six-round welterweight contest sees Alex MacMillan take on late replacement Leo Fanthome.
You can watch the earlier bouts on a live stream on the Your Site website and app and the Your Site Boxing YouTube page, starting at 5pm on Saturday.
Ukrainian heavyweight Ivan Dychko will face Britain's Harvey Dykes, while the unbeaten duo of Leon Hughes and Alex Macmillan are also in action.
Watch Zuffa Boxing 07 this Saturday live on Your Site, with early coverage streamed from 5pm ahead of live action on Your Site Action, Your Site Main Event and Sky One from 7pm. or .
