Tavoris Cloud has vowed to put on a performance when he defends his IBF light-heavyweight title against Bernard Hopkins on Saturday night.

The Floridian puts his 24-fight unbeaten record on the line against the 48-year-old, who is coming off a loss to Chad Dawson 11 months ago.

Hopkins has built a career out of making life difficult for his opponents, largely at the expense of the fans, but Cloud believes he will be able to nullify the threat of the wily veteran.

"You have to go in there and hit him, show him that his tactics don't work," he said. "Bernard Hopkins is a fighter that you have to get straight to the point with.

"I come to give the people a fight and give them their money's worth; give them real entertainment.

"He is a good fighter. He's earned his keep, but I just don't think he can hit me. I think he trains hard and he lives his life right. He's made sacrifices to increase his longevity, but you know it's been too long.

"The word 'snooze fest' comes to mind, that's what a lot of people say. He's a boring fighter.

"Fighting a fighter like Bernard Hopkins, who's supposed to be a legend, puts me in a different frame of mind. It puts me on my toes. I know this Saturday I'm going to be victorious because I'm going to put on a great show."

Hopkins (52-6-2) says he will once again prove that his remarkable conditioning will help him better his own record of being the oldest world champion in history.

"I don't know what being a 48-year-old feels like," he said. "There are a lot of 48 year olds that aren't in good shape. The pharmacy is making a killing off of them.

"I'm 100% clean. I'm doing this off of nuts and bananas. I'm motivated by my desire to prove that I'm different and that I can still silence the critics. I'm going to avoid Cloud's strengths and expose his weaknesses."