Deontay Wilder 43-2-1 (42) has boxed less than one round in the past two years but he isn’t expecting that to be an issue against Joseph Parker 33-3 (23) when the pair meet in the semi-main event on the massive ‘Day of Reckoning’ card at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.

The 38-year-old former WBC heavyweight champion believes his otherworldly power will end the fight inside the distance whether sooner or later.

By contrast New Zealand’s Parker, 31, will be having his fourth fight this calendar year.

“I believe in the concept of ring rust, but I don’t have no rust on me,” Wilder told The Sporting News.

“I always keep lime next to me. Lime is what gets rid of rust. Happiness, peace and love, that recipe equals a rejuvenated body, a healthy heart, a healthy soul. I bring all of that into the ring with me.

“In my last fight, it was the same [layoff] of about a year, and it didn’t last too long. I’m coming in to do the same thing. I don’t get paid for overtime, so I mean business. If I’m gonna lose, I’d rather be knocked out. If I’m to win, I’d rather knock you out.

“When Deontay Wilder is in action, you better beware. I keep you on the edge of your seat. You don’t know what’s gonna happen, but when it happens… Bam, baby, goodnight!”

There is a lot on the line for Wilder, who is widely expected to face former two-time WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua 26-3 (23) if he beats Parker and if the 34-year-old Brit gets past Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin 26-1 (14) on the same card.

“It’s the closest that it’s ever been in history,” Wilder said of the matchup this week, adding: “it’s the biggest fight in the world.”

But Wilder knows it is no time to get ahead of himself.

“Joseph has been boxing for a long time,” Wilder said to The Sporting News.

“If I’m not mistaken, he’s been doing it since he was a kid. He should be well qualified to survive when he steps into the ring. Every fighter that steps into the ring, for me, has some type of bravery.

“It’s going to be a great fight – the Day of Reckoning – and somebody is going to get knocked out. That happens, it’s just how it happens. When people see me fight, they expect a knockout, but they also expect the effect that it will cause upon that human being. What will his body do after that punch has landed?

“I’m looking forward to letting him do the little hula-hoop dance after I punch him. I wanna knock him out of the ring. I’ve never knocked a man out of the ring. I wanna knock him out of the ring, but I don’t want nobody to hold him when he falls out.

“I want him to fall straight on the floor, on the ground, with his arm folded out, looking up into the sky, in la-la land, as if he’s on mushrooms.”