While Joseph Parker has been training the house down in Las Vegas, his next opponent, Afa Tatupu, has been fitting his preparations around a fulltime job in a timber yard.
Tatupu will take a month off to train fulltime ahead of the defence of his New Zealand National Boxing Federation title at Auckland's Trusts Arena on October 10 but the difference in preparation between the two fighters could hardly be greater.
"I'm still training throwing timber around, but it's just one of those things," Tatupu said.
The odds are clearly stacked against the 33-year-old, who like Parker is of Samoan heritage.
Parker, at the start of his professional career and with a fulltime trainer in Kevin Barry and various sponsors, has been working extremely hard in Sin City for the past seven weeks. Barry said the 21-year-old was in the shape of his life and had made big improvements since his impressive second-round knockout of Francois Botha in June.
Parker, now weighing 102kg, has put in about 320km of road running and 85 rounds of sparring.
"We had a real tight schedule before the Botha fight," said Barry. "We only had eight weeks together and every day counted.
"But since I have got him back to Las Vegas we have been able to be a bit more relaxed and I have been able to introduce Joseph to a lot more things.
"Joseph's body is changing. His strength is improving. His boxing knowledge is being extended every day. He is already a different and a better fighter to the one who beat Francois Botha."
And then there is Tatupu, a father of three, who appears an affable chap outside the ring but is said to possess a powerful punch. He also has a modest nine-win, four-loss record, whereas the extremely promising Parker, who is 14cm taller than Tatupu, has a six-win, no-loss professional record.
Trainer Chris Martin has been working with Tatupu for only a week after health issues ruled out Tatupu's previous corner man and acknowledged the difference between his fighter and Parker.
"I work, he [Tatupu] works, he's got three children, whereas Joseph is a young fella who eats, breathes and sleeps boxing. He wakes up in the morning and he's got nothing else to do, so that definitely makes a difference - and the resources and money he has behind him. But the last month [of fulltime training] will mean a lot.
"If you look at the TAB and the odds, it's all going to be Joseph for sure - due to his pedigree and everything else. But you can't rule out a guy who can punch. He's definitely got a puncher's chance and we'll be looking to maximise that while keeping him safe."
Parker's promoters Duco Events have signed light heavyweight Robbie Berridge to their stable on a six-year deal.
Berridge, 28, is a hard-hitting southpaw with only one loss in 22 fights.
