Teresa Perozzi and Kali Reis, her opponent, were on their best behaviour at yesterday’s weigh-in ahead of their showdown for the vacant IBA world middleweight title.

But with so much at stake, both boxers are sure to be anything but pleasant when the bell rings for round one at the sold-out Friday Night Fights at The Fairmont Southampton tonight.

Perozzi, 40, the more experienced of the two pugilists, said that she is determined not to disappoint her fans in her own backyard.

“I feel great and it’s going to be a great night,” Perozzi said, shortly after tipping the scale at 157¾ pounds.

“I know Kali is coming here to fight and I don’t take anyone lightly. It’s very rare that women get this opportunity to be the main event, so for both of us this is really a big deal.”

Perozzi, whose professional record stands at nine wins, four defeats and three draws, will be hoping to return to winning ways after two consecutive draws with Tori Nelson, the American, for the vacant WBC world middleweight title in October 2012 and February 2013.

“A draw to me is as bad as a loss,” the southpaw said. “I don’t want that feeling again.”

The orthodox Reis weighed in at 153 pounds and at 28 is more than a decade younger than Perozzi. She also has a longer reach than her Bermudian rival.

“She’s lighter and maybe faster, but that doesn’t mean anything to me,” Perozzi said. “A couple of pounds is not a big deal.”

As for the significant disparity in age, Perozzi, who gave birth to her second son, Gabriel, eight months ago, said: “That doesn’t faze me, I’ve fought all types. Everything you can imagine I’ve fought, so it doesn’t mean anything to me.”

Reis, whose record stands at six wins, three defeats and one draw, suffered a unanimous-decision defeat to Mikaela Lauren, of Stockholm, in her last fight in Valencia, Spain, in July.

“I feel great and I’ve come prepared and ready to fight,” said Reis, who hails from Providence, Rhode Island. “I’m ready to put on a really good show for this championship belt.

“I’m just going to try to execute what I have been doing in training. Me and my team have a good game plan and we are just going to go out there and do what we have to.

“[Perozzi’s] a southpaw that comes forward and I’m a fighter who likes to fight and wants to have some fun in that ring.”

Tonight’s IBA world middleweight title showdown, sanctioned by the International Boxing Association and Bermuda Boxing Association, consists of ten, two-minute rounds.

The championship bout will be officiated by Steve Smoger, the world-renowned referee, who also ruled over Perozzi’s previous two fights.

“This is a world-class event featuring two of the top-five women boxers in the world and I am honoured to be a part of it,” Smoger said.

Featured on an equally-intriguing undercard will be Nikki Bascome in his first professional bout on home soil, 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.