On December 23 in Saudi Arabia, a battle of former heavyweight world champions will take place when Deontay Wilder returns to the ring against Joseph Parker.

Wilder hits the ring for the first time since October of last year, when he knocked out Robert Helenius in one round.

Parker hits the ring for the fourth time this year, after building a three fight win streak since suffering a stoppage loss to Joe Joyce in 2022.

There are several heavyweight fights on the card, but Wilder feels that he's taking the biggest risk.

"I think it's me. I'm taking the biggest risk because they're looking past Parker - but I'm not. Joshua is the biggest fight in combat 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 told TNT Sports.

Wilder is regarded as one of the most dangerous punchers in the sport, but many observers wonder how he'll look after only having a single round of action since 2021.

"Deontay hasn't been in the ring for a while, coming into this fight I've been busy, I've been active," Parker said. "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."

The fight was put together very quickly - which doesn't bother Wilder at all in terms of training time.

"Not at all. 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," Wilder said.