The 45-year-old former world champion admits he is well past his prime and confronts a man 17 years his junior when he takes on Michael Zerafa in Bendigo on Saturday night.

Mundine has had plenty of people, including his famous father Tony Mundine, question his decision to continue - out of fear 'The Man' could suffer significant injuries, including brain damage.

He is rated a $7 outsider by bookmakers, with Zerafa installed as a near unbackable favourite.

Mundine has lost four of his past five fights and hasn't been in the ring in 15 months, but is motivated by what he saw as unjust decisions in losses to John Wayne Parr (2019) and Danny Green (2017).

"I want to go out on my terms," Mundine told AAP.

"I don't want to be dictated to or get a bad decision twice. If I had have won one of them, I would've been out already.

"People are concerned for your safety but s*** like this ain't never been done at my age.

"It's my legacy, going out with a victory. I've been on the top of the mountain.

"I wouldn't have fought, but no one wanted to fight this cat.

"(Tim) Tszyu didn't want to fight him, Horn didn't want to fight him. He's dangerous."

For Zerafa, the mere mention of Tszyu's name lights a fire.

The 28-year-old wants to put an end to Mundine's career and use him as a stepping stone towards a showdown with Tszyu.

"Everyone expects that I can just call Canelo Alvarez and fight the world champion tomorrow, but it doesn't work like that, or else I would," Zerafa told AAP.

"I've never shied away from a hard fight, but this is a building fight.

"Fight 'The Man', get him out the way and then on to bigger and better things.

"Tim Tszyu, who calls himself the best, had a four-fight plan that I was in and he's fought three out of the four.

"I'm the only one left, so that makes perfect sense.

"It's a fight we want, so it's time to go out there and put a full stop to Mundine and then onto Tim Tszyu."

Zerafa grew up idolising Mundine and credits the veteran as a big reason for driving him into boxing.

"There's always one last swing in the old bull and if anyone can do it it's Mundine, but I don't think it's going to be with me," Zerafa said.

"I'm switched on, I'm focused. I've seen this fight for 13 years.

"Normally people do a 10-week psychological build, but I've had 13 years of this.

"I've replayed this fight a million times and it's gone the same way every time, that's me victorious."

Australian Associated Press