However, that's exactly what he's planning to do against former IBF world middleweight champion Sam Soliman in Melbourne on Friday night in what will be the latter's swansong bout.

Taking such a fight on just three weeks notice is a risk not many would take, particularly so soon after their first professional loss, but it says a lot about Lucas' mentality in his career second coming.

As coach Nudge Mieli will tell you, his longtime charge hasn't shelved retirement for gimme fights and gimme wins.

"When we got the call we both said yes straight away because it's an opportunity you can't say no to," Mieli said.

"When he decided to come back we made that decision, we go hard or we go home so t here was absolutely no hesitation in taking it. The way I've tried to guide his career we've never looked for easy options.

"We could have opted for a catchweight but he said 'coach I'll make middleweight, I'm a professional and that's what I want to do'. He's [dropped] 9.2 kilos in three weeks.

"It's the shortest [preparation] to date, two and a half weeks. That's never ideal but I'm extremely confident we're going to go there and we're going to stop him."

Stopping the 60-fight veteran is likely what Lucas will have to do to get the win on a card pitched as 'A Night With Sam Soliman'.

"We had a joke in the gym about being thrown in with the king and it's our job to dethrone the king," Mieli said.

"I know Sam he's a great guy, a great human being but we're going there to knock him out, we're not going there to be his friend.

"There's an after party and we're invited, we'll probably have a drink and share some stories afterwards but we're going to knock him out."

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The bout at Melbourne Pavilion will come just two months after suffering the first loss of his professional career to hard-punching Rocky Jerkic (16-1) at Sydney's Hordon Pavilion.

Lucas lost no fans in what was his pay-per-view debut, with the split decision defeat coming after an all-action back and forth affair.

The performance, coming after an almost two-year layoff, leaves the camp confident he can stop Soliman on his home turf.

"We got more out of that fight than any win that he's had," Mieli said.

"People have finally given Mark the acknowledgment that he deserves. They've seen he can box, he can fight, he's got a granite chin.

"When he got dropped by Rocky he got straight up and said I'm fine let's go'. He's proven he deserves to be where is and it's about time he gets that credit.

"He's been through the highs and lows and he deserves to be rewarded for 15 years of putting his body on the line.

"Everyone knows who Sam Soliman is. If we can stop him it can open up some massive opportunities."