When Steve Lovett returned home to Canberra, he didn't tick the box next to leisure as his reason for travel - he was coming to take care of business.
Leaving Houston for the capital meant getting up at 4:30am for morning workouts, working as a stonemason for eight hours, then heading to the gym for boxing.
It has been tough, but this man loves a challenge - he's nicknamed "Tough Love" for a reason - and now he's "ready to get back into the picture".
Lovett (15-2) will look to claim his first win in almost two years when he steps inside the ring against Aswin Cabuy (19-63-4) in a light heavyweight bout at Capital Fight Show 12 at the Hellenic Club on September 8.
A mentally refreshed Lovett is a shadow of the man he was a few months ago when he was fighting professionally in the United States, and he's got his wife Alexandra and some long work hours to thank for it.
Lovett left home for Houston in 2014 and improved his record to 15-0 under legendary trainer Ronnie Shields, but he finished his next two fights on the canvas.
Having just one fight in nearly a year under his belt made things worse, because he wasn't putting food on the table.
"I felt basically useless over there because I've got a fiance over there and she's going to work every day earning money, and I'm sitting here [doing nothing]," Lovett said.
"In the States, the only way I can earn an income is through boxing. When you're not in the ring and not fighting, you're not earning anything.
"It starts to get tough on you mentally, you feel like 'what am I doing? I'm not earning any money'. I've got to plan a future, I've got a wife now."
Lovett was originally slated to fight on CFS 11, but had opponent after opponent slip through the cracks and he was eventually forced to watch from the crowd.
A few days later he was on a plane back to Houston to marry his Italian-born fiance Alexandra.
Soon after that he was doing "a big stone job for the in-laws" that took "a good two weeks of working 14-hour days".
But marrying the one he calls the girl of his dreams coupled with a stint back at home has reignited Lovett's flame as he prepares to relaunch his career.
"I'm in a good head space, I feel good about everything as far as my life and work goes, I'm married and training is going really well," Lovett said.
"It's just about getting in the ring and taking care of business. It's on me now, my mindset is extremely good and I'm just ready to get in there and perform."
Lovett is keen to bring Alexandra down under for the first time later this year with the former Great Australian Bake Off contestant eyeing another fight in Australia in the next few months.
Canberra boxer Dave Toussaint will headline the show in an Australian middleweight title fight against Queenslander Liam Hutchinson.
CAPITAL FIGHT SHOW 12
Friday, September 8: Capital Fight Show 12. Tickets available from Ticketbooth. Doors open at 6:45pm. Show starts at 7:30pm.