Teresa Perozzi admits the pressure will be on to deliver the goods during her upcoming WBA middleweight title defence against American rival April Ward on home turf.But she is confident she will be equal to the task at hand.The 38-year-old southpaw will rest her belt and a potential shot at Tori Nelson’s WBC middleweight title on the line during Teachers Rugby Football Club (TRFC) Fight Night at Berkeley Institute School Gym March 10.The fight will consist of ten, two- minute rounds and is to be officiated by WBA certified judges and referees.“There’s definitely pressure on me because I usually go in as the underdog or people aren’t really sure about who I am,” Perozzi told The Royal Gazette. “But I feel I have enough experience where I can handle the pressure.“I’ve done it (fought) enough times and I’ve got more experience so I feel I can handle it. This is just another experience or progression of my boxing career.”Very little separates the two fighters on paper.Perozzi’s overall pro record currently stands at 8-4-1 compared to Ward’s record of 8-4-0.Mother of one Perozzi intends to prepare for her upcoming title defence as she would for any other bout.“What I do each time seems to work and so I’m just trying to stay with the people I’m used to being with and doing my similar routine,” she said. “I know what I need to do physically and mentally to be ready for a fight, so I can’t let the other stuff get to me.”To ensure that Perozzi steps into the ring in pristine shape, sparring partners have already been lined up for her at Rego’s Gym in Warwick.“There are guys coming up to the gym so there will be people for me to spar with,” she said.Even though she is being touted as the favourite, Perozzi isn’t taking anything for granted against Ward.“I’ve always fought good competition and my opponents have always been highly ranked,” she said. “I never take anybody for granted so I push myself one hundred percent every time.”Perozzi has wasted no time forming a strategy against an opponent who remains cloaked in mystery.“To be quite honest I don’t know much about her,” she said. “But at the end of the day I know what I need to do.“I will just work on cutting off the ring and hopefully try and make her fight my fight.”Perozzi landed the WBA middleweight belt after getting past American Lorissa Rivas on a split decision in Trinidad and Tobago last December.Just over $2,000 was raised to go in aid of the boxer’s preparations for March’s championship fight during a reception/fundraiser at LV’s Ferrari Bar last week.“It was a great turnout and just so nice that they (Little Venice Group) did that for me,” she said. “It was a great mixture of people and interesting to see people I didn’t even know come out and support.“They raised over $2,000 that’s strictly going to be used towards this fight. It was very nice.”Event co-organiser Dale Butler added: “It was very well attended. The silent and regular raffle and gate raised over $2,050 and Teresa was quite pleased and delighted with the support.”