Moses Itauma has conceded Filip Hrgovic is starting to "wind me up" after the Croatian said a heavyweight title victory could "ruin" the 21-year-old Brit.
Hrgovic (20-1, 15 KOs) and Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) will battle it out for the vacant IBF title in London at O2 Arena this Saturday.
After previously saying Itauma had been given everything on a plate, Hrgovic continued taunting his opponent on Tuesday, saying it would be better for Itauma in the long run if he lost and that too much success early in his career would be "bad for his soul."
Victory for Itauma would see him become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in history behind Mike Tyson and ahead of Floyd Patterson.
"I think for him, it would be the best to lose this fight because it's going to ruin him, winning the world title. He's already in the clouds, above the ground. He's already delusional," Hrgovic said.
"I think it can ruin someone who's not ready for that kind of fame, that kind of money. It can ruin your soul.
"I think I'm in a much different position because of that experience, what I went through and the ups and downs in my life. I'm in a different position now. I think I'm like a rock. Stable. Nothing can move me. I don't care about fame. I don't care about money."
There is growing expectation that Itauma will win to become the youngest ever British heavyweight world champion.
Billboards around London promoting the fight have a main, larger image of Itauma with Hrgovic, the vastly more experienced fighter who won Olympic bronze in 2016, in the background.
The posters carry the tagline "witness history," in a nod to Itauma's potential feat.
Itauma said he could see where Hrgovic was coming from, but said the big talking Croatian was starting to irritate him.
"Do you know what? This Hrgovic guy ... I say to myself there's nothing that he can do to get in my head, but he's starting to wind me up," Itauma told reporters on Tuesday.
"In an interview earlier, apparently he said I wake up and I just hug trees? He's really starting to annoy me.
"Although it's been annoying me, that is one thing that I can say I hear that because I already know the level of success I've achieved and I already know how I'm coping at the level I'm coping with."
Asked if Hrgovic had a point by saying a potential heavyweight title victory could be too soon, Itauma said: "I wouldn't say he has a point but if I win this fight it might not be good for my soul. I can hear that.
"But that's not the reason why I'm just gonna go in there and not win -- for the sake of my soul. That's not a good idea."