DEONTAY WILDER insists his friendship with Dereck Chisora will go out the window when the pair collide on April 4.
The bruising heavyweights, who will both contest their 50th fights of their respective careers when they clash at the O2 Arena, have been refreshingly respectful and even friendly during the build-up.
But during an interview with The Ring, Wilder revealed he has told his British foe that he wants him to try and kill him.
Wilder said: “I can be cordial. I can be friendly with anyone, but that don’t mean that I can’t switch to want to whoop your ass.
“It’s just what it is. We’re fighters. I’m a fighter, and I’m proven to be that way.
“This is not just talk. When I say that we can be friends on the outside, but when it’s time to fight, we gonna turn that off.
“I’ve already told him, ‘I want you to try to kill me, you understand me?’ He looked at me weird, [but] I need that because we can do this. I’m proven, because I also had a brother that I fought and told him the same thing.
“It’s gonna be the last time we talk. The next time we see each other, we’re gonna be in each other’s face.
“We’re gonna be at war, because I need at that point of time to turn it off.”
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Even though both men are now in their forties, they will be well positioned to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for his world heavyweight titles should they win.
Chisora has faced the Ukranian before, going the distance with him on his heavyweight debut before losing via decision.
British stars like Viddal Riley and Denzel Bentley will join the knock-out happy heavyweights on the card on April 4
Chisora has suggested his last few fights may well be his last one, but now that he has embarked on a three-fight win streak, he is pushing it as far as he can.
Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith believes Chisora will win again.
“I believe he beats Wilder. The only problem is, he’ll then say he wants to continue and I’ve been saying on a personal level away from boxing he needs to retire for years because, what more do you want from it?
“But, 50th fight at the O2 Arena, it’s going to be sold out, live on DAZN,
“I’m buzzing for him. I’m happy for it. It’s going to be a big win. World title fight after that – who would have thought that?!”
