While Wanganui-born light-heavyweight Robert Berridge has his sights set on knocking out Aucklander Adrian Taihia in two weeks' time, his handlers have begun the subtle game that goes along with earning a shot at a world champion.
The 29-year-old was back at home running two seminars for local boxers and fitness exponents at Fight Fit Gym on Sunday and Monday, while also getting in some training with his cousin Paul Berridge as the build-up continues to the main event against Taihia (11-2-1) on the "Triple Thriller" card on May 22.
Berridge (23-1-1, 19 knock outs) told the group during a Sunday Q&A session after their workout that his promoters Duco Events had arranged the match-up out of the controversy back in October when Taihia climbed into the ring for a war of words during a television interview after Berridge knocked out Argentina's Mariano Jose Riva.
However, with Taihia's light record, despite being the NZPBA super middleweight title holder, and having been previously knocked out competing in Australia, Berridge wants to put the 31-year-old away so he can look ahead to getting big fights and hopefully earn a world title match in 2015.
"We've got to do it, apparently," he said of Taihia.