Carl Froch defends his IBF super middleweight title against Yusaf Mack in Nottingham on Saturday night, while the prospect of a rematch with Lucian Bute remains fixed on the horizon.
'The Cobra' was crowned world champion for a third time back in May when he destroyed the previously undefeated Romanian inside five rounds in Nottingham.
The spectacular victory brought an end to Bute's five-year reign as champion, but the 32-year-old has the option of a rematch in his adopted hometown of Montreal.
Speaking after Bute's comeback victory over Denis Grachev recently, Froch said: "Bute didn't really impress, but it was a comeback fight from a devastating defeat against myself, so what did people expect?
"He needed to find his feet again, find his confidence. I'm sure he's done that. I think mentally he needed to get that fight in the bag.
"Now I'm hoping the rematch will happen. He'll have the home advantage this time. As a team, we're hoping he takes the fight so I can go out there and give him another pasting."
However, for that fight to become a reality Froch must first overcome Mack, who hails from Philadelphia and brings a 31-4-2 record to the contest.
The 32-year-old normally campaigns at light heavyweight, and was stopped in the eighth round of his one and only world title bout against Tavoris Cloud last year.
Mack will be fighting outside of America for the first time, but is confident of springing a surprise.
"Froch has counted me out," Mack said on Ringside. "He's looked at my losses in the seventh and eighth, but what is he going to do in the seventh and eighth when I am still standing up?
"I believe that I am one of the top fighters. I just have to prove it. I am ready to prove that I am supposed to be here."
Froch has one of the most respectable records of any boxer; domestic or around the globe, although Mack believes that the Nottingham man still has a long way to go if he wants to be considered alongside the likes of Joe Calzaghe.
"He is a fake Calzaghe," added Mack. "He wants to fight like him and do all the moves like him but there is only one Calzaghe."
It will be Froch's ninth-straight title fight since defeating Jean Pascal for the vacant WBC strap in December 2008.
In that time, the 35-year-old fought the best that the division had to offer, due largely to the 'Super Six' tournament that sought to unify the WBC and WBA titles.
The two defeats on his 31-fight record came against top class opposition in the form of Denmark's Mikkel Kessler and pound-for-pound contender Andre Ward.
Froch has made no secret of his desire to avenge those losses, but said that he has not lost his focus on his next fight by looking too far ahead.
"I feel confident," Froch told Sky Sports News. "I'm on the case and I've been training well, I've not taken my eye off the ball and I'm training like I'm the challenger.
"I'm taking it seriously, like I take all my fights, but I very much expect to do the business."
So with 2013 is shaping up to be yet another busy year for Froch, he must avoid a slip-up against Mack. Nottingham expects, as does the rest of Britain.
Current form: Carl Froch:
Yusaf Mack: WLWLWW
Sports Mole says: A comfortable victory for Froch.
