Teresa Perozzi has a simple but bold piece of advice for challenger Kali Reis ahead of the Bermudian southpaw’s defence of her IBA world middleweight title at The Fairmont Southampton: “Forget about victory.”

Perozzi, who meets Rhode Islander Reis in a ten-round bout on Friday night, is adamant that her belt will remain in Bermuda, insisting that her training camp could not have gone any better.

The 40-year-old said that she has felt extra motivated since giving birth in March to her second son, Gabriel, who will be ringside to lend his support along with his older brother, Micah, who is flying in from Florida to watch his mother “kick some butt”.

Perozzi said: “It’s been a different kind of training camp with me having a baby, a better training camp, and I’m feeling really energised.

“I’m so excited that [Gabriel] is going to be there — my husband [Andre] wouldn’t have it any other way.

“My oldest [Micah] will also be there as he is flying from Florida, where he attends school.

“He’s seen almost every one of my fights and doesn’t get nervous at all. He knows he’s coming to see his mom kick some butt!”

Perozzi said that she had been besieged with good-luck messages ahead of her first match-up since her second successive draw against Tori Nelson, of Virginia, at Berkeley Institute in February 2013. Her first bout against Nelson, who defeated Reis by unanimous decision 12 months ago, was held four months earlier at The Fairmont Southampton, a venue where Perozzi is determined to mark her return to winning ways and improve on her record of nine wins, four draws and three defeats.

“Wherever I go people are talking about the fight and wishing me luck,” said Perozzi, who will again have Troy Darrell, Bermuda’s decorated former pugilist, in her corner.

“I’ve had people shouting at me on the street, telling me that I still look like a teenager! That makes me feel good — people can’t believe that I had a baby seven months ago.

“I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in boxing and I’m going to win.

“I need the win and I want to win convincingly. I don’t want any more controversy, I don’t want another draw, and I want to perform like I have been in training.”

Although her opponent Reis goes by the moniker “KO”, Perozzi has warned the 28-year-old that she had better be prepared to go the distance. Reis, who has a record of six wins, three defeats and one draw, suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Mikaela Lauren, of Stockholm, in her last fight in Valencia, Spain, in July.

“I know she’s in great shape, I know she’s coming to win, but she doesn’t stand a chance,” Perozzi said.

“I’ve put in the physical work and at this stage it’s all about staying positive — it’s all about the mental game. I’m prepared for ten rounds. I’m ready to go for ten hard rounds.”

She added: “I know retirement is in the near future but I want to go out on top.

“I’ll know when it’s time to stop and right now I don’t feel that.”

Featured on a mouthwatering undercard will be Nikki Bascome in his first professional bout in Bermuda, against Joe Marchand-Tipping, of the MAS Academy of Martial Arts in Ontario.

Chioke Tucker, Bascome’s stablemate at Allan “Forty” Rego’s Gym, will be making his professional debut against Martello Jones, also of the MAS Academy.

Tickets can be purchased at the International Sports Shop, Beyond Fitness and PTIX.BM. Ringside tickets are $100 and general admission is $65.