“ANYONE can be knocked out.”

Orange southpaw Sam Ah-See fired the first shot, albeit a reasonably modest one, ahead of his mouth-watering rematch with the previously unstoppable Arnel Tinampay at Orange Function Centre tonight.

Ah-See returns to the ring tonight for the first time in nine months, fighting in Orange for the second time after last year’s Australian National Boxing Federation super-welterweight title fight against Shannon ‘Shaggy’ King, at the same venue.

Ah-See won that fight, but has since vacated the title to move down to welterweight.

Ah-See and Tinampay squared off at yesterday’s weigh-in at Orange City Centre, and the former said, on the back of a bumper sixth months worth of training, he’s confident of keeping his undefeated professional record intact - although he refused to go as far as saying he will knock the Filipino out.

“Anybody can be stopped. It only takes one lucky punch,” Ah-See said.

“He’s fought a lot of great Australian fighters at heavier weights and hasn’t been stopped. I’m not expecting a knock-out but as I said, anyone can be knocked out.

“I’m very confident. I’m just excited to get back (in the ring) in my hometown ... I get great support here, I can’t wait.”

Ah-See said his preparation - a three-month camp in America training out of Fortune Gym and 12 weeks with new trainer Lincoln Hudson - was all but flawless, and the 24-year-old labelled himself “three times the fighter” he was when he first met Tinampay  in 2013, in Dubbo.

Ah-See won that fight, at super-welterweight, in a controversial majority decision. Both fighters have stripped down to welterweight for tonight’s bout.

“The lighter I am the better,” Ah-See said.

“I’ll be a lot quicker, the weight I beat King at last year, that’s not my weight.

“I’m walking around probably a kilo or two lighter than that weight now. I’ve had a great camp, I spent three months training ... alongside the Manny Pacquiao camp when he was getting ready for Floyd Mayweather.

“I believe Linc has helped me become twice the fighter I was before I went to him.”

Hudson agreed, not beating around the bush in his assessment of his new charge, before assuring punters tonight’s fight will be of epic proportions.

“Some say Arnel won (in 2013), but Sam got the result because he was the local lad,” Hudson said.

“Whoever wins (tonight), congratulations to them. What I can promise you is Arnel will have the hardest fight of his life.

“Sam Ah-See now would knock out the Sam Ah-See who fought here last year.”

Tinampay, who confirmed his belief that he won the pair’s last fight in 2013 but also speaks little English, said he is here to avenge that defeat.

“I am coming here to try my best, and to win,” he said.

Prior to Ah-See’s fight, former NRL star Solomon Haumono makes his return to professional heavyweight boxing against kiwi Filipo Masoe, while Orange CYMS’ prop Simon Osborne makes his professional debut against Chris McClung on the professional undercard.

The amateur undercard features Des Crawford’s bout with Jacob Saunders, Junior Ato’s fight against Mitchell Stevens and Jack Littlefield’s, of Orange, bout against Parkes’ Steve Chislett.

Doors open at 6pm, with the remaining general seating and general tickets to be sold at the door.