Ben Whittaker jokingly suggested his fight with Liam Cameron is now eight rounds after their dispute was resolved.
Whittaker and Cameron will meet in a hotly-anticipated sequel on Easter Sunday in Wolves.
The pair’s teams had been embroiled in an argument over the number of rounds, after BOXXER signed a contract suggesting the fight was over 12 in a huge blunder.
BOXXER, Whittaker’s promoter, were forced to pay a fee to Cameron to allow the fight to return to ten rounds, their original plan.
After a lengthy dispute including promoters Ben Shalom and Frank Warren, it was announced that it was resolved just yesterday as the fight approached.
And when responding to the dispute for the first time, Whittaker, who is unbeaten from his nine professional fights, played it down.
“Last night I got told it was eight,” Whittaker joked. “It’s an eight rounder if I’m honest.
“I don’t know what the rounds are. Seriously though we’ve worked really hard.
“We’ve done so many rounds and we’ll see.”
Cameron, who boasts 23 wins from his 31 scraps in the paid ranks, responded: “They paid me an absolute fortune.
“He could have called my bluff. I could have been wanting to do the ten all this time.
“I dreamed for these moments. How can I complain? I’m here, I’m ready, I’m in much better shape [than the first fight].
“Let the games begin in the ring now. I’ve given myself the best opportunity.
“I’ve put myself in a frame of mind, a mental state, where I’ll be scared.
“I’ll be that scared dog in the changing room and that brings the best out of me. It’s been magical and we’re going to put on a big show.”
Whittaker and Cameron are rivals, but there has been a surprising level of respect between the pair so far during the build-up.
It has been a spiky feud between the pair, given their first fight in October was marred by controversy.
The pair tumbled out of the ring in a nasty fall which left Whittaker unable to continue, and the contest was scored a draw.
Many believed Cameron was winning the fight – including the fighter himself – who was dejected by how proceedings ended.
But rising star Whittaker now has the chance to end their rivalry for good, and remove a real thorn in his side.
‘The Surgeon’ seems destined for big things, but will need to silence the outside noise to focus in ring business.
