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AUCKLAND - New Zealand heavyweight Shane Cameron rates his next opponent as the toughest and most skilled of his boxing career.
Cameron, who retains ambitions of a world title shot, will fight American-based Andre Purlette in Wellington in a promotion dubbed Capital Punishment.
Purlette, 34, has split his time between the heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions and fashioned a strong record of 40 wins, 35 by knockout, and just three defeats.
The Guyanan's opponents have included New Zealand heavyweight Jimmy Thunder, whom he stopped in the second of 10 rounds in Reno, Nevada, in 2001.
Nicknamed "Tombstone", he has also beaten American Jeremy Bates, who went on to fight former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.
Cameron, 30, said Purlette wasn't the biggest heavyweight around, but he would be a step up from the previous fighters he had faced.
"He's got the best record of anyone I've fought," he said.
"He'll be the most skilled as well. I expect he's going to be quite sharp and fast. We're working on having some sharp sparring partners so I can counter what he's going to bring."
Cameron, "the Mountain Warrior", was undefeated until he was stopped by Nigerian Friday Ahunanya last November.
He bounced back to knock out American Jonathan Haggler last month to advance his record to 20 wins, 18 by KO, and one loss.
- NZPA
