Dillian Whyte is paying Oscar Rivas every respect but expects his love for violence to power him to victory in Saturday's clash at The O2.
With the pay-per-view event being billed as a final eliminator for Deontay Wilder's WBC belt, Whyte must deliver the 26th win of his career to stay in the heavyweight world title frame.
But the accomplished Rivas is a tough prospect with a strong amateur pedigree, posing a threat to Whyte's hopes of entering the ring against Wilder, Tyson Fury , Anthony Joshua or Andy Ruiz Jr.
"I don't overlook anyone. I train hard for everyone. Why would I suddenly overlook Rivas now? The man is dangerous," Whyte said.
"But I've been fighting forever. It's what I do. I don't do a lot of other things well, but I know how to fight.
"The violence is what excites me. I train for it. I love it and I'm ready for it."
Whyte and Rivas have both fought 26 times - Whyte's 2015 loss to Joshua is the only blemish between them - and they share the same knockout rate of 69 per cent.
Where the two deviate is their amateur history, with Rivas numbering Kubrat Pulev and Ruiz Jr among his victims. Whyte, however, is happy with the course he is plotting to the summit.
"Sometimes I think to myself I should take an easy fight and blow someone away in a few rounds. But I'm not learning anything from that," Whyte said.
"I've had good sparring for this. I've been in the game a long time now. I never had a long amateur career but I've had camps and sparred many people.
"I've seen different styles and figured out different styles. I've learned from the mistakes I've made and have constantly learned on the job.
"As a fight goes on, I'm figuring the fighter out and seeing things. I'm unconventional and I adapt to my situation.
"I've fought a tall guy, an awkward guy, a pressure fighter. I found a way to defeat them all apart from one. I came up short just once."
Whyte weighed in at 18st 7lbs, with Rivas somewhat lighter at 17st 1lb.
