Boxing: Win or I retire - Cameron

Shane Cameron (right) will return to the ring after taking a beating at the hands of American Brian Minto. Photo / Getty Images

Shane Cameron says his showdown against Kali Meehan in the Super 8 main event on Saturday night is make or break for his career.

The 37-year-old is standing by his declaration that retirement will follow if he loses to the Australian-based Meehan but is backing himself to come out on top at the North Shore Events Centre.

A thorough preparation and a renewed hunger for the sport has him intent on making a return to the winner's ranks after consecutive defeats to Australian champion Danny Green and American Brian Minto.

"I've left no stone unturned. This is make or break for me and that's why I have trained pretty hard for this one," Cameron said at today's press conference at Auckland's City Boxing gym.

"I'm going out there to make my own decision whether I retire, not for Kali to make my decision for me."

The former national heavyweight champion is undaunted by the pressure he has placed on himself and says past experiences have him confident he can rise to the challenge.

"That's what I said [and] I like to add pressure to myself. I've said that [retirement] once in my career when I fought for the Commonwealth title against Dominic Vea, a very tough opponent in Sydney.

"I said if I lose against Vea then I'll retire. That was a hard fight but I knocked him out in the 12th round.

"It's the same here. This is a very tough fight for me against big Kali over here and I know what he brings."

Cameron believes he has reignited his passion and hunger for boxing after losing much of his desire when Green beat him almost two years ago.

"It feels good [now]. I sort of lost my desire for the sport, probably after losing to Danny Green actually.

"I just didn't know whether I wanted the sport or not and then all of a sudden it came around fast that I was fighting Brian Minto. In hindsight I shouldn't have taken the fight but the better man won on the night, but this is different.

"The man who fought Brian Minto is not the man who is going to fight on Saturday night."
Health-wise Cameron says he is in top condition and holds no concerns over a troublesome right hand.

"I'm 100 per cent good to go. The hand, especially in this camp has been the best it's been for a while. I'm happy with the old hand, it's alright."

Meanwhile, Kali believes Cameron has been underestimated by media and critics.

The 44-year-old is well aware of how the underdog tag can inspire a fighter to exceed expectations.

"I look at my own career and in all the fights that I've been the underdog and I've been overlooked and underestimated, I've come out on top," Meehan explained.

"So I know it gives a fighter drive so I've made sure that I train really hard, made sure I'm 100 per cent physically fit and mentally ready."

Cameron says he has the ability to stop his hard-hitting opponent, although he acknowledges both fighters possess the power to land the knock-out blow.

"Hey, we're in the heavyweight division, we can both punch hard. If either one of us land...I've shown in my career that 22 knockouts in my 33 fights, so anyone can get knocked out. I'm not coming here to lose."