DEONTAY Wilder will end a 14-month absence from boxing when he enters the ring on Saturday night against Joseph Parker in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Last time out โ€˜The Bronze Bomberโ€™ needed just one round to wipe out a heavily outgunned Robert Helenius in Brooklyn, but will know he is in for a much sterner test in the form of Parker, a one-time WBO belt-holder.

This week Boxing News caught up with Wilder, who claimed a fight between himself and Parker has been in the works for years.

โ€œJoseph Parker was supposed to fight us a long time ago when he was the WBO champion, but he ran from me and now itโ€™s payback from running,โ€ Wilder said. โ€œIโ€™m looking forward to the fight. I like to tell people, ‘When I get in the ring donโ€™t blink,’ because it may be an early night come Saturday night.โ€

Trained by Andy Lee, there is a belief among some observers that Parker is a rejuvenated and hungrier fighter and could take advantage of Wilderโ€™s ring rust.

โ€œI donโ€™t really gain ring rust,โ€ Wilder said. โ€œAlthough my body is not in the ring, my mind has never left. This has been short notice and a short camp, so we have had to cram a lot of rounds in this camp, but it all worked out for the best. Iโ€™m ready to go.โ€

Wilderโ€™s notorious power has been used to devastating effect during his career, with 42 of his 43 wins coming by way of knockout or stoppage. Parkerโ€™s trainer says that the fight between his man and Wilder could come down to a shootout, which would of course be music to the ears of the American.

โ€œItโ€™s always music to my ears because none of these guysโ€™ power matches mine,” Wilder said. “Numbers donโ€™t lie and numbers tell the truth. If he wants to have a shootout that will be fine with me. Itโ€™ll be an even earlier night than expected.โ€