The mentality is always the same for Hank Lundy every day he steps into the gym.

Train every day, stay prepared and eventually the phone will ring with the right opportunity.

That day arrived in late April, when Jose Zepeda was in need of an opponent for a May 22 date on ESPN. Lundy (31-8-1, 14KOs) immediately agreed to terms less than a month ago for this weekend’s fight, which takes place at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 37-year-old Philadelphia native entered the equation after the Nevada State Athletic Commission rejected Mexico’s Pedro Campa as an opponent.

“I don’t know who that guy is, no disrespect. All I know is I heard that he fell out,” Lunday said during a recent Zoom media conference call to discuss this weekend's bout. “I’m an old school fighter. A championship is a phone call away as long as you stay ready. That’s what I’ve been doing, staying ready. The man upstairs, I got to give it up to him giving me this opportunity to be back on ESPN. It’s a blessing.

“It was three weeks’ notice. But my preparation took it to a 12-week camp because I was already in camp preparing for another fight.”

While Lundy enters the fight riding a modest two-fight win streak, Zepeda (33-2, 26KOs) is riding a wave of momentum. The 31-year-old California native prevailed in an all-out war with Ivan Baranchyk, recovering from four knockdowns to score four of his own in stopping the former IBF junior welterweight titlist in the 5th round last October at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. The bout was universally hailed as the 2020 Fight of the Year with Zepeda maintaining his place as a top contender.

Among the short list of people not impressed by the feat is the 15-year ring veteran in the opposite corner this weekend.

“One thing I seen in the ring, [Zepeda likes] to rock ‘em and sock ‘em but Hank Lundy got different dimensions,” claims Lundy. “I can punch with you, I also can box. One thing about it, when I hit you, you’re not getting back up. He’s a southpaw. Last time I checked, I’m 3-0 against southpaws. It’s three weeks’ notice, but is he prepared for Hank Lundy? People keep on asking me if I’m prepared. I’ve prepared for every style. Big guys to small guys.

“Is he prepared for Hank Lundy. We’re talking about a guy who was ready for retirement. He was there to be the opponent that night and just got lucky. Hank Lundy is nobody’s opponent. I’m coming in there, I’m putting it all on the line. This is my championship fight right here.”

The bout serves as the chief support to the undisputed junior welterweight championship showdown between WBC/WBO titlist Jose Ramirez (26-0, 17KOs) and WBA/IBF titlist Josh Taylor (17-0, 13KOs).

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox