He has won 31 consecutive fights dating back to 2012 but Emanuel Navarrete has never faced anyone like Liam Wilson.

That is what the Australian underdog is telling himself ahead of his dream WBC super featherweight world-title shot against the Mexican in Phoenix next week.

Navarrete will start an overwhelming favourite at the Desert Diamond Arena but there is logic to Wilson's optimism given the two-division champion is moving up in weight.

"He's going to have someone across from him just as powerful, showing more resilience than anyone he's ever fought before," Queenslander Wilson told AAP from his Washington training base.

Wilson will weigh in at less than 59kg but possesses incredible punching power responsible for some of Australian boxing's best knockouts.

"I believe I'll be the biggest puncher he's fought and I hope to let him experience what I'm going to bring," he said.

"I'm coming to try and knock him out ... it could end up in a real fire fight.

"I have to be very careful; he's unorthodox and dangerous, one punch can change it all.

"But it's not one-way traffic because he has to watch out for my shots too."

Wilson is seeking to become only the second current Australian male boxing world champion behind cruiserweight Jai Opetaia.

His hopes looked little more than a pipe dream after he was knocked out by Joe Noynay in July 2021, Wilson's first and only loss in a 12-fight professional career.

The 26-year-old quickly sought a rematch, returning the favour by flooring an over-weight Noynay.

He then beat Matias Rueda and was due to fight on the since-postponed Tim Tszyu-Jermell Charlo undercard in a world-title eliminator.

But an injury to fellow contender Oscar Valdez (30-1), who was originally slated to fight Navarrete for the title vacated by Shakur Stevenson, opened the door.

"It wasn't so long ago I had that loss, had to overcome that battle with myself and bring myself back to having the mindset of a champion," Wilson said.

"It's been a bumpy road but ... if I couldn't overcome that I'd never be a world champion.

"It showed my resilience and now I can answer for myself, tell myself, 'I've got it'."

Wilson has trained for eight weeks in the United States without his family and two children but knows a win would mean he never has to endure that again.

"I can't wait to see them and I'd like to think (as a world champion) I'd be in a position to have them come with me," he said.

"I'm only one win away from changing my life, and my trainer and manager always remind me of that."