Chris Arreola says he has "nothing to lose" when he challenges Deontay Wilder for the WBC heavyweight title in Birmingham, Alabama next month.
Two-time previous world title challenger Arreola (36-4-1-KO31) meets the champion in his hometown on July 16, after Wilder (36-0-KO35) saw a clash with Alexander Povetkin postponed last month when the Russian failed a drugs test.
"I'm ready for this opportunity to fight Deontay. I'm going to get up there and give everyone in Birmingham a great show," Arreola said.
"That is my job. I always come ready to fight. I always come ready for a brawl.
"I have to approach this fight different than any others. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Deontay has a lot to lose.
"I have to make the best out of this opportunity. He is doing what he is supposed to do as a champion. He is defending his title. He is going to come prepared. He knows what kind of fighter I am. I am going to give it my all."
The clash with Arreola is Wilder's fourth defence of the WBC title he won after beating Bermane Stiverne at the beginning of last year.
The American admitted his frustration at seeing last month's clash with Povetkin fall through but is now keen to look to the immediate future, against a fighter he knows will bring everything to the ring on July 16.
"Of course everyone knows what happened with Povetkin with my last fight," Wilder said.
"I was super-prepared and everything, travelled to a whole other country and continued training. I was a different fighter - a different Deontay with everything I did.
"I was ready to represent my country, too. Things happen. This is boxing. It is a business. The saying is, 'One door closes and another one opens.' This is a prime example of that.
"I understand being patient and patience is a virtue. I've been patient all my life.
"As you see Chris Arreola stayed patient. You wonder why he continued to get title fights. It is his time. Some guys get chances after chances and some don't. You can't deny him. You can't look past him.
"With the circumstances that we were facing, to come back and do a short notice-type fight, as far as looking for opponents, we knew it had to be the right person.
"We needed a fighter that would fit the description that he would fight with his heart, give it his all."