In December, Clarke was outhustled by his British rival Jeamie TKV and lost a disappointing 12-round decision.

The result - and the way Clarke allowed himself to be drawn into TKV's style of fight - will cause many to put a ceiling on the 34-year-old's potential but he is intent on using that night as a launchpad to greater things.

Clarke (9-2-1, 7 KOs) and Huni (12-1, 7 KOs) meet on the undercard to Tyson Fury's long-awaited return to action as the two-time heavyweight champion boxes Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, streamed live on Netflix.

Many will be surprised that after losing to TKV, Clarke will return to action in what is effectively a make-or-break fight but he wouldn't have it any other way.

"Everyone keeps saying that to me but I'm just a dead honest character," Clarke told The Ring.

"There's no drive in me to go and box a Bulgarian bin man on an undercard at half-six at night just to get back in there. It just seems a waste of my time. The last time was just a bad performance but there's a few overlying factors to that. It's not that I'm a bad fighter, I just didn't get it right."

Clarke may be coming into the fight on the back of a disappointing defeat but Huni hasn't boxed since last June when he was knocked out in the tenth round of his fight with current WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley.

Despite suffering recent high-profile losses both remain well known, marketable heavyweights.

In the past, their paths would have veered wildly away from each other as their handlers tried to rebuild their records and reposition them for another meaningful fight. The fact they have been guided towards each other is a sure sign of the way the heavyweight division has changed in recent years.

Clarke is pleased that he has been given a shortcut back into contention but believes that many see him as a stepping stone for Huni.

"One's at world level, one's just lost at British level so for these fights to happen, it's unusual," he said.

"Because of the stats I’ve just said, people think this is going to be a one-sided fight. I know it without people saying it. People think this is a run out for Justis Huni. I’m enjoying that, though. I feel like I'm getting a chance to go in there as the underdog and shock the world."

Clarke has boxed under the spotlight from the very start of his career.

After winning a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games, he turned professional under Angel Fernandez. The biggest name in a small stable, Clarke was the centre of attention every day in the gym and then immediately found himself dealing with the pressure of fighting on Sky Sports.

In January, Clarke left Fernandez and joined up with 2015 Ring Magazine trainer of the year Joe Gallagher, at the Champs Camp gym in Manchester and has been quietly working hard alongside a group of hungry youngsters.

He has thrived in the environment and in contrast to the rest of his career, the heaviest expectations Clarke will have to shoulder this weekend will come from himself and his team. He is relishing the opportunity.

"When you come from that Olympic background, a few good things come from it," he said.

"Obviously, the exposure is great because it brings in financial opportunity but at the same time I’m jealous of a few of these lads in here. They're learning their trade on the smaller cards, and go under the radar without the scrutiny, without everyone looking and giving their opinion. I didn't get that.

"Being chucked in at the deep end and being the underdog, because that's how I feel I am, is going to bring the best out of me."

Whereas Clarke was derided for his loss to TKV, Huni's defeat to Wardley attracted only praise.

Huni undoubtedly announced himself as a presence on the world stage during the 10 rounds he shared with Wardley but as good as his performance was, the 27-year-old couldn't quite get over the line.

He will walk to the ring for his fight with Clarke knowing that he is able to perform under pressure but the lingering memory of the right hand that bought his night to a sudden end will naturally begin to force its way towards the front of his mind as the first bell draws near.

Clarke went through the same process after being stopped in the opening round of his rematch with Wardley.

Clarke boxed on the same international amateur circuit as Huni and is far too experienced to fall into the trap of believing that he is just one right hand away from the most significant win of his career. He believes that anybody giving him little more than a puncher’s chance is choosing to overlook his own boxing ability.

"It's not easy. Especially after being knocked out as such. It is difficult," he said.

"Thoughts do go through your head but you should know that anyway when you're getting into a boxing ring, especially at this weight. It can happen to anyone so I'm not particularly looking too much at the fact that you were knocked out. I look at the overall performance and thought it was a very good performance but - if you watch that fight again - there’s early moments from Fabio where he has some success as well, in the first round even.

"People might not have seen the best of it, but I can box. I really can box. Yeah, he's very skilful but if people want to think that I can be just outboxed, they don't give them Olympic medals out, man. Let me tell you that."