ONE week to go to my 16th WBO world super-middleweight title defence against Brian Magee in Belfast and I feel in great shape physically, back to my old self.

Training has gone well, the weight has come down nicely and I'm really up for Magee and looking forward to putting on a top performance.

For the first time as a pro I have brought in a dietician to help my preparations and I feel strong and ready to knock Magee out.

I've always done my own dieting and preparation for fights but a dietician knows more about low fat supplements and vitamins and things like that.

I know it seems strange after all these years, but it's just a case of being a bit more professional.

As I have said before, it doesn't get any easier to shed the weight as you get older and so it made sense to get a little bit of help and it has already made me feel stronger.

I believe I'm better prepared mentally and more focused than I was for my last fight against Kabary Salem as Magee will find to his cost.

I've watched quite a few tapes of him. He's a decent fighter with good all-round skills.

He's good on his feet and throws some nice combinations and has had some good wins.

But against Robin Reid (to whom he lost his IBO super-middleweight title on a unanimous points decision) he was caught with a few good shots (suffering four knock-downs) and he does seem very upright.

He was a top amateur and took a silver medal at the European championships and also managed a win over current IBF world super-middleweight champion and a current rival champion of mine, Jeff 'Left Hook' Lacy.

The problem for him is that I believe he still fights a bit like an amateur. He's a good 'on top' fighter. When he's in control he boxes well. But when he gets flustered or is put under pressure he seems to go into his shell.

He did that against Reid and I'm a lot better fighter than him, a lot faster and a lot more powerful.

I don't think Magee can keep his gloves close to his chin for 12 rounds. I will catch him and when I do I'm convinced he'll go.

As I have always said, there is only one super-middleweight in the world who can beat me and that is me myself by not preparing right and that hasn't and won't happen.

Some people have made a lot of the fact that I'll be fighting Magee in his own backyard, in the hotbed that is Belfast's Kings Hall, but for me it's not an issue.

I have been to other people's back yards before and destroyed them. There's no doubt a home crowd can lift you and I'd love to be fighting at home.

But boxing is unique in so much as when you are in that ring you are on your own and there's nobody to help you.

Being at home didn't help Magee against Reid and it won't help him against me.

The crowd may be screaming and shouting to start with but they'll be silenced long before the end.

As for the future, after I've beaten Magee, well unless I get a shot at a version of the world light-heavyweight title or a clash with undisputed number one Glen Johnson, it looks as though I'll have to defend my crown against interim champion Mario Veit in Germany.

The Germans won the purse bid ($1,750,000 to Frank Warren's bid of $900,000) so if they are happy to pay me a lot of money for the privilege of knocking out their best fighter again in his own country, so be it.

He may not go in the first round as he did when we fought in Cardiff four years ago because he has improved since then (winning all his 15 contests) but he couldn't beat me in a month of Sundays and won't last 12. You have to knock someone out in Germany to get a draw they say, and that's what I'll do.

But, having said that, you have to have faith in the system and if I do go over there (May 7 is the suggested date) I can't go thinking about the judges.

As for a light-heavyweight title clash, well since Clinton Woods won the IBF title with a fifth-round TKO against previously unbeaten American Rico Hoye last week he has gone quiet.

It wasn't that long ago he was calling me out but now that he has won the title he's running chicken and won't speak to me.

They tried to get him to talk to me on the telephone after his title win last week, but his management wouldn't take the call.

I wasn't going to show him any disrespect.

"I was going to congratulate him for putting on a good performance. I was impressed. But my name's not Rico Hoye and if I ever get the opportunity to fight Woods I'll smash him to bits.

It's the fight everyone in Britain wants to see, it's a straight forward fight to put together, so why is he contemplating meeting somebody no-one has heard of.

"Let's get it together.

"For me, it wouldn't be a financial thing. He could have the lion's share. I wouldn't be looking for massive money. I'd be looking for the title to fulfil my dream of being a double world champion."