WITH apologies to Aretha Franklin, but the buzz word at yesterday's press conference for tonight's world heavyweight title bout at Southport Sharks between Kali Meehan and Michael Kirby was R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

The two behemoths do battle over 12 rounds for the vacant WBF heavyweight title belt.

Kirby is a giant of a man, standing 191cm and weighing 118kg, while his vastly more experienced opponent towers over him at 196cm but is 10kg lighter.

Boxing fans will be pleased to know that these mild-mannered men outside the ring morph into fighting machines once the time-keeper signals time-on tonight.

Meehan, 41, and the six years younger Kirby are both quietly spoken and intelligent and at yesterday's media “do” you could have been mistaken for thinking that tonight's bout would be a dud, fought between two blokes who had developed a solid friendship.

Each praised the other for his sportsmanship and had pleasure in citing the other's fighting talents.

Just when we were all thinking, “is this ever gonna be a fizzer”, Meehan and Kirby quickly knocked those thoughts on the head.

“Kali has been a mentor to me since I started boxing as a 30-year-old and I respect him immensely, but once the bell rings tomorrow night I'll be out of my corner trying to smash him,” Kirby said.

“Much as I admire him, Kali stands between me and a planned campaign to England. A loss here certainly wouldn't help my prospects of heading over there, so I'm gonna hit him and I'm gonna do my best to beat him.”

Meehan has fought nothing but the best during his illustrious career.

His record stands at 41 bouts for 37 wins, 30 by knockout, and four losses, which were all against world-rated fighters.

“As much as I respect Mick, this is what I do for a living and my lifestyle is a lot more comfortable when I'm winning,” Meehan said.

“I haven't come here to lose. Friendships mean nothing when two blokes are belting each other.”