While Deontay Wilder will enter his heavyweight boxing showdown with Joseph Parker on Sunday (NZ time) as the clear favourite, the American isn't quite as emphatic about his chances.
Wilder believes pundits underestimate the challenge posed by Parker at Riyadh, where 'The Bronze Bomber' will try to add momentum to his world title prospects, after a lengthy absence from the ring.
Both fighters have sat down for the traditional 'fireside' pre-fight chat, where Wilder told TNT Sports that "everyone is looking past" the Kiwi.
With his sights set on a long-awaited blockbuster bout with Anthony Joshua - who fights Swede Otto Wallin in Sunday's marquee bout - the former WBC word champion insists he has the most at stake this weekend.
"I'm taking the biggest risk, because they're looking past Parker, but I'm not," Wilder said.
"Joshua is the biggest fight in comeback sport, period. When people talk to me, the main thing they talk about is me and him, all the time.
"It applies pressure, because the world wants to see [it]."
Wilder has spent 14 months out of action, with his most recent outing against Robert Helenius ending in a first-round knockout.
By stark contrast, Parker has remained busy. Looking to revitalise his own stocks, after being sent to the canvas by Joe Joyce in September 2022, the South Aucklander has fought - and won - three times in that same span.
Additionally, Parker is only two months removed from his third-round knockout of Simon Kean at Riyadh, meaning he's essentially never left training camp.
"Deontay hasn't been in the ring for a while," said Parker. "Coming into this fight, I've been busy, I've been active.
"Is he going to bring ring rust or is his training going to pay off?
"At this stage of my career, I take the best fights and the biggest fights, and I don't shy away from challenges.
"A lot of people are wary of him and scared of the right hand that he possesses, but I'm all in. I'm all for it - I love to challenge myself."
Wilder's October 2021 trilogy bout against Tyson Fury was the last time he was pushed beyond the first round, but after an intensive camp in his Tuscaloosa homebase - where Kiwi Junior Fa has been among his sparring partners - Wilder, 38, is confident there'll be no spring lacking in his step.
"When I look at that, I just think I'm just reserved, I'm just fresh right now and just ready to go.
"Most of all, [I'm] just excited. Although this is a short-notice fight that we both have, I'm a world-class athlete.
"This is nothing short of what I'm used to."
Join Newshub on December 24 (NZ time) for live updates of Joshua v Wallin, Parker v Wilder
