'This is my world': Tim Tszyu and Dennis Hogan camps fire shots

Take care of business in a super welterweight blockbuster at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night and Hogan will be "back in the US, back on the world stage for a world title fight".

It's a stage Hogan has been on, and one Tszyu is desperate to get to. A win this week could propel either man to a super welterweight championship fight.

Hogan's camp carries an aura of confidence around Newcastle this week. The Brisbane-based Irishman says it's for good reason. His last two fights were for world titles.

Once he went almost seven rounds with WBC middleweight king Charlo. Before that he was controversially robbed of an upset win over WBO super welterweight champion Jamie Munguia in Mexico.

MORE SPORT

"Two different classes completely," Hogan's manager Danny Dimas said.

"He's no Charlo over there, you know what I mean? Dennis has fought people twice as good as Tim, so for us it's a tune-up fight for the next big thing for us.

"If you're a betting person, I'd be betting on Dennis. You'll make some easy money this Wednesday night.

"We were out the back just looking at contracts. They're obviously a bit scared of Tim losing, because even in the contract they've asked for a rematch.

"Why would you ask for a rematch unless you think you're going to lose?"

But Team Tszyu have heard it all before. Tszyu couldn't resist turning to his manager Glen Jennings with a smirk when he heard those words come out of Dimas' mouth.

"Timmy is going into his 18th fight, every single person that gets up on this stage for a press conference says the same thing," Jennings said.

"They always mention different levels, they always mention Tim is not up to it. They always mention they're in the best shape of their life. They always get beat."

His standing in the Australian landscape goes some way towards defining how Tszyu is such a short-priced favourite to beat Hogan, though the latter admits he is somewhat mystified given he is ranked above Tszyu by the WBC.

While Hogan's camp are questioning the need for a rematch clause and Tszyu's camp wonder whether Hogan's recent concern about a broken nose was legitimate, the man who will lure a full crowd to Broadmeadow just wants his moment under the bright lights.

"Contracts and broken noses, I couldn't care less, just get me in the ring on Wednesday night," Tszyu said.

"I don't think it's going to be a warm-up fight. I don't make fights easy, when I get in the ring, I'm not there to tip and tap and run around, jab and throw a few overhangs.

"I'm here to hurt my opponents. It's not going to be no warm-up fight, that's for sure. I'm expecting the best Dennis Hogan, he's a great fighter. I've got no disrespect for him. My full respect to him. He trains like a fighter, does this full-time, tries to feed his family, and I've got all respect for that.

"But when you get in the ring, this is my ring, this is my world, and I'm not going to let anyone out."

Rather, he is going to get them out.