At his final competitive training session, on Monday night, The Hammer looked sharp yet relaxed, working hard while finding time to trade banter with the other boxers.

The nerves, he revealed, have yet to kick in, although that’s expected to change once he arrives in Canberra.

His body, he added was fine. He may have felt a little tired, but that was normal for that stage of the preparation. His coach, Danny Cheetham, said that he had “flattened” his boxer last week. “My legs were gone,” agreed Hammond.

Sparring and shadow boxing on Monday night was followed by a massage the following morning.

Since then, Cheetham and Hammond have been spending hours in the ring, with the coach repeatedly taking his pupil through the fight plan. There has also been a lot of video work, so the 20-year-old can get a visual picture of Ross’ strengths and weaknesses. At the same time, Cheetham has been making a conscious effort not to get Hammond too wound up.

The original plan had been for The Hammer to train at the Australian Institute of Sport for the three weeks leading into his fight. However, he talked the coach out of it - and Cheetham is glad that he did.

Had he been at the AIS, Hammond would have been put through a general fitness program with the other elite boxers - Ross included. But by staying in Moree, he’s been able to enjoy a regime specifically designed for him to beat Ross. “For this particular fight,” the coach says, “this is the best place for Cameron Hammond.”