PERTH, Australia — When George Kambosos Jr. steps into the ring (Saturday at 10 p.m. ET in the U.S, ESPN/ESPN+) to face Ukrainian star Vasiliy Lomachenko, his focus won’t be on capturing the vacant IBF lightweight title that’s up for grabs. Nor will it be about the monster pay day from what he dubs “Australia’s greatest ever fight.” Instead, Kambosos is focusing on one thing and one thing only: his legacy.

How he is perceived as a fighter, both now and once he has hung up the gloves, is something Kambosos (21-2, 10 KOs) has been fixated on ever since this megafight with Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) was officially announced in January. Each media appearance in the buildup has offered Kambosos an opportunity to elaborate on how significant a win over the two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-division champion would be, and how it would affect the mark he leaves on the sport.

“For me, this is about legacy. Nothing else,” a defiant Kambosos said earlier in the year. “He has made money, I have made money. He has won belts, I have won belts. I’ve been in the big fights [and] fought the best. I’ve won the big fights, lost the big fights. But this here is legacy; destiny for both guys. We don’t need to go overboard or create any storylines or headlines. This is two warriors coming together to fight.”

The legacy Kambosos is referring to, and seeking, is a place in the coveted International Boxing Hall of Fame, an honour that’s been bestowed on only five Australians — Jeff Fenech, Kostya Tszyu, Peter Jackson, Young Griffo and Les Darcy.

Kambosos and his camp are convinced a win over pound-for-pound great Lomachenko, albeit at 36 years of age and firmly in the twilight of his career, will bolster his résumé to a point where his eventual entry into the exclusive fight club will become undeniable.

“This fight cements me in the Hall of Fame, I truly believe it. They can’t deny that,” said Kambosos. “What I have been able to achieve, the fighters I’ve been able to fight, the events I’ve been able to bring to Australia … how can they deny Kambosos’ résumé?”