Australian middleweight champion Dave Toussaint is on the cusp of breaking into the world's top 15 as he locks his sights on a world title shot.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The unbeaten Canberra product (12-0 with eight knockouts) will return to the ring in the main event at Capital Fight Show 14 at the Hellenic Club on May 4.
It looms as the biggest fight of the 26-year-old's career with an Australasian title and potential top 15 ranking on the line against an opponent soon to be announced.
Toussaint was originally eyeing a spot in the world's top 15 with one of boxing's top four organisations - the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Organisation, World Boxing Association, and International Boxing Federation - by the end of 2018.
But now the door is open for Toussaint to charge up the rankings and go knocking on the door of a world championship shot in less than six weeks.
It is a huge turnaround compared to where Toussaint was less than 12 months ago - recovering from a shoulder operation before beating Shane Mosley Jr on the undercard of the Jeff Horn-Manny Pacquaio blockbuster.
"I had a goal to get to the top 15 this year with one of the top four organisations in the world. I spoke to [promoter Nick Boutzos] and he said I should be able to get a top 15 ranking in the next fight if I win, and it's also for the Australasian title, so it's exciting stuff," Toussaint said.
"Things have been going really great. I look back at this time last year, I'd just had a shoulder operation and I was recovering from that and then I found out I was on the Battle of Brisbane undercard up at Suncorp [Stadium].
"I was working hard to get ready for that and only just managed to get ready in time. This time I have been working straight through, I'm feeling fit and strong, and ready already - and it's still six weeks to go.
"I'm really excited to get back out there and get good momentum for the rest of the year. Not a single bloke has gone the distance with me [at the Hellenic Club] since my pro debut [in 2013].
"I'm hoping to do that again and keep the ball rolling. It's always good in Canberra, having that support, and everyone seems to go pretty mad so I'm really excited to fight here at home again."
Toussaint's last fight was an Australian title victory against Liam Hutchinson at CFS 12 and the former electrician believes he is in the best shape of his career in the lead up to a landmark bout.
Toussaint flew to Thailand on Monday afternoon for a two-week camp with trainer Garry Hamilton at Tiger Muay Thai as he bolsters his bid to chase his dream of becoming a world champion.
"At home you get a bit distracted by everyday life sort of stuff, so there we'll be purely working on our own training and everything for the fight. It should be good," Toussaint said.
"The one-on-one time that we're going to get is going to be priceless, so I'm excited for it.
"I went at the start of last year, it's a great facility and a really lovely environment, everyone works hard and it's a really good place to go and work out so I'm really looking forward to getting back over there.
"It's a great environment, everyone helps you work really hard and it helps you raise that little bar above. Right now I'm probably doing about half of my sessions by myself here in Canberra so having that group mentality all the time through will be good."
