The friendly measures between the longtime heavyweights are out the window for the time being, though.

In an interview with The Ring, Wilder said he wants the British heavyweight to try and kill him when they fight in a DAZN Pay-Per-View main event at O2 Arena in London.

“I can be cordial,” Wilder said. “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.”

Wilder (44-4-1, 43 KOs) is one of boxing's most prolific punchers in history and held the WBC heavyweight title from 2015 to 2020, making 10 defenses. The Tuscaloosa, Alabama native lost his title via seventh-round stoppage by Tyson Fury during their February 2020 rematch.

After losing four of his last five fights, Wilder, 40, rebounded with a seventh-round stoppage of Tyrrell Herndon in June.

Chisora (36-13, 23 KOs) said his bout with Wilder will be his last. The British heavyweight has pushed many of the division's top players to the brink but fell short, including narrow decision defeats by WBC interim champ Agit Kabayel, former WBO titlist Joseph Parker twice and Ring, IBF, WBA and WBC beltholder Oleksandr Usyk.

The 42-year-old has seemingly found another fountain of youth, entering this contest on a three-fight win streak, most recently outpointing Otto Wallin in their February 2025 headliner.

Once the dust settles on April 4, Wilder maintains that he and Chisora will go back to being friends, and believes this fight will strengthen their bond.

“When you fight your friend, or anything else, it will bring you closer to that person,” Wilder said.

“Your relationship is even stronger, and it’s better. That’s what I’m looking forward to, and I can’t wait. That’s why it’s gonna make it a great fight and I feel every fighter in the business should take a page out of our book on how to promote, because some guys just try too hard to promote.

“People know bulls*** when they see it, but when it’s authentic and genuine, and I can say, ‘I love you, you love me, and we’re friends,’ it makes a better fight for everyone and keeps the ones around you at ease. We don’t need security, not for this event, and that’s what it is. April 4 at O2 Arena, it’s gonna be electrifying. It’s gonna be crazy. It feels like my debut all over again, and I can’t wait.”