Deontay Wilder relishes sharing the ring with Chris Arreola on Saturday night as the WBC heavyweight champion aims for yet another knockout for his record.
Wilder, 30, has already stopped 35 of his 36 opponents in positioning himself as one of the best top-division operators but believes the opportunity is there to improve his standout 97% KO ratio in Birmingham, Alabama.
“Arreola has a style prone to a knockout. He’s a pressure fighter who will come forward all night. That plays to my style. I love pressure fighters who give me a challenge. They keep me moving and thinking. I love the sweet science and its art, ” Wilder said.
“Only one name can make this be what it is. Every time he steps in the ring, he comes to fight. I think we chose the right person. It’s up to Chris to take advantage of this opportunity. He has a history that he can make, which will mean a lot to him.
“I have a guy in front of me trying to stop me from getting to the next level. I promise this is going to be a great fight.
“I’m here to defend my title against a very hungry fighter. It’s a life-changing event for the man who holds the belt at the end of the night.
“I never look past anybody. But I can look through them. Before I became a champion, I said I wanted to be an active champion.
Just like I was active coming up. This has been my longest time away from the ring, so if all goes well on Saturday, I want to be back in the next few months.”
