Jeff Fenech believes Jack Brubaker has what it takes to cause an upset and end Tim Tszyu's undefeated record.
It will be a St George-Sutherland Shire derby at the International Convention Centre Sydney on December 6 when Cronulla boxer Brubaker takes on Rockdale fighter Tszyu.
Brubaker will step up to super welterweight to take the bout against Tszyu, widely regarded as the next big thing in Australian boxing.
The 27-year-old Brubaker will share top billing with the 24-year-old son of Australian boxing legend Kostya Tszyu when they meet at the end of the year.
But Brubaker will have his own legend in his corner.
Multiple world champion Fenech joined Team Brubaker as head coach, trainer and mentor at the start of September.
Fenech said at the official fight announcement at the Tszyu Boxing Academy, Rockdale on Thursday that while he had the utmost respect for Tszyu, Brubaker had shown enough already to cause an upset.
"In the last few weeks I've seen amazing improvement. Styles make fights, some of the greatest fighters in the world have been upset. And I think I've got a kid here that works hard enough to give this fight a huge shake," Fenech said.
"We know how hard this fight is going to be. I've got total respect for Tim.
"I've seen a winner [in Jack]. I've seen somebody who will go to the extreme degree to win. We're working hard. Hopefully you're not going to see that Jack Brubaker you've seen the last two fights getting hit, throwing punches. Hopefully there'll be a bit of method to the madness.
"We're working on a lot of things. It's very, very hard to work on fighting a guy as sharp as young Tim. Tim's super sharp. For the amount of fights he's had he's years and years in front of himself. I think it's his genes. I think he's got the best genes in world boxing history. So we've got a bit of work to do. But that's what I've always believed in. Tough times don't last, tough people do. And [Jack] typifies everything that I'm about."
Fenech played a key role in Kostya Tszyu fighting for Australia. One of the greatest boxers of all time, Tszyu unified the light welterweight division to become an undisputed world champion.
Fenech said he was still full of respect for the 50-year-old, who has returned to Australia for the first time since his son's professional debut three years ago.
"It's always great to see Kostya. I'll never forget when this youngster from Russia first came to our gym. Just to watch him, wow. I was totally in awe," Fenech said.
"To see the power and see the stuff that this kid brought to our gym was stuff we never saw and maybe we never see again. And I know a lot of people talk about Timmy and say 'if he's gonna be half as good as his dad'. Well if Timmy is half as good as his dad, excuse the [profanity] but he is going to be a f****** amazing fighter.
"He's going to be one of the best fighters out there. His dad was that good as far as I'm concerned. I don't usually swear in press conferences but when people talk about Tim, Tim works his backside off. I've known Tim since he was born. I've been not a huge part of their life but I've seen this kid develop into where he deserves to be today, the face of Australian boxing."