Australian Sam Soliman is set to defend his lightly-regarded International Boxing Federation middleweight title against American Jermain Taylor, a former undisputed world champion trying to make a comeback at age 36.
Soliman, who turns 41 next month, won the crown with a unanimous decision over Felix Sturm last May before his rival's home fans in Germany.
"It has taken me 20 hard years to get to where I am," Soliman said.
"Being a world champion is a special feeling and one I plan on keeping. This is my first title defence and I'm leaving no stone unturned to make sure it's not my last."
The Melbourne fighter had defeated Sturm in 2013 but that verdict was changed to no contest after Soliman tested positive for the banned stimulant methylsnephrine, leading to a nine-month ban for the Aussie.
Soliman, 44-11 with 18 knockouts, will on Wednesday try to stretch his nine-bout win streak.
His most recent loss was to then-WBA super middleweight champion and fellow Aussie Anthony Mundine in 2008.
Taylor, 32-4 with one draw and 20 knockouts, claimed the undisputed middleweight title in 2005 after defeating Bernard Hopkins.
But after losing back-to-back fights in 2009 at super middleweight, and having dropped four bouts out of five over a two-year span, Taylor stepped away from boxing for two years.
Taylor returned to the ring in late 2011 and is 4-0 in his comeback.
"Things have come full circle for me. I have another shot to become a world champion and I'm not going to let this opportunity pass by without being victorious," Taylor said.
"I've made a bunch of mistakes in boxing, losing to fighters I shouldn't have because of a lack of training, but I'm ready to clear all that up."
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