By Jake Donovan

For the second time in as bouts, Deontay Wilder will put his unbeaten record and heavyweight title on the line in his home state of Alabama live in primetime on free-to-air Fox TV. The 31-year old – fully recovered from injuries sustained in his last start – defends his belt for the fifth time as he faces Poland’s Andrzej Wawrzyk on February 25.

The bout headlines at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, marking Wilder’s third appearance at the venue, which is roughly an hour from his country football-crazed hometown of Tuscaloosa. All three bouts will share the distinction of having aired in primetime on free TV once fight night comes, having scored stoppage wins over Johann Duhaupas (Sept. ’15, NBC) and Chris Arreola (July ’16, Fox) at the tourist-friendly locale.

“It’s always special to fight in Alabama,” Wilder (37-0, 36KOs) said during a press conference held on site Wednesday to formally announce the event.

The last such occasion was bittersweet, stopping Arreola in nine rounds but also suffering a biceps tear and hand injury that put himself on the shelf for the remainder of 2016. Two surgeries later, the 6’7” heavyweight is eager to return to his comfort zone known as a boxing ring.

“I can’t wait to get in there and test my right hand,” Wilder stated. “I know that Andrzej Wawrzyk is coming to fight with all of his heart. He’s coming to prove something.”

He’s not just coming to prove something, but to make history and avenge the defeat of his close friend and countryman Artur Szpilka. Wawrzyk (33-1, 19KOs) was live at ringside for the event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, watching in agony as Szpilka – who was competitive through eight rounds – landed on the very wrong end of a cracking right hand as he was knocked out cold in the 9th round of their Showtime-televised headliner last January.

In an instant, Szpilka’s bid to become Poland’s first-ever world heavyweight champion crashed and burned. There once again exists the opportunity for that to come to fruition.

“I'm not coming to Alabama just to be there,” insisted Wawrzyk, who appeared via Skype from his home in Krakow, Poland. “I'm coming to take belt from Deontay Wilder, to become Poland’s first heavyweight champion and win the most prestigious title – the WBC green belt.”

Wawrzyk has won his last six starts since the lone defeat of his career, a 3rd round stoppage at the hands of Alexander Povetkin in May ’13. The event perhaps comes with an asterisk given Povetkin’s disgraced recent past, having twice tested positive for banned substances in 2016.

The first such occasion killed plans for a showdown with Wilder last May. Wilder was en route from England to Moscow before learning of a pre-fight drug test conducted by Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) showing traces of the banned substance Meldonium. It was enough for the unbeaten champ to reroute and head home to Alabama.

Povetkin was once again popped by VADA last December, this time for Ostarine ahead of his eventually canceled clash with Bermane Stiverne. He would instead face late substitute Duhaupas, who was stopped in six rounds, just 15 months after his 11th round stoppage loss to Wilder in their aforementioned Sept. ’15 clash, under which Wawrzyk appeared in scoring a 2nd round knockout of Mike Sheppard.

Whether or not the upcoming ring rivals scouted each other that evening, they are all that is on the other’s mind from now until February 25.

“I learned of the fight right before Christmas, but was already in great shape and have plenty of time to prepare for this opportunity,” Wawrzyk revealed. “We are working on every (possible scenario) every day in the gym.”

It’s hardly a secret that Wilder is a heavy betting favorite heading into the bout. Just don’t expect the defending champ to train as if the outcome is a foregone conclusion.

“Some people laugh at my opponent and his chances, but that’s just stupid,” explained Wilder, who is coming up on two years as champ since beating Stiverne by landslide decision in Jan. ’15. “We all just heard him; he’s not just coming just to fight in Alabama, he wants to become the first Polish heavyweight champion of the world.

“I have to knock him out. He’s coming to prove something. He’s not just fighting for himself but for his entire country. Everyone who’s ever become famous started somewhere.”

Twitter: @JakeNDaBox_v2