Given that Joe Santoliquito has been kept busy as of late with his new role as president of the Boxing Writers Association of America, the boxing sage is accustomed to pressure.

A former editor of THE RING, Santoliquito enhanced his credibility in the sport by going 21-0 over the course of 2014 as a member of THE RING’s panel of boxing insiders.

But with the new year comes the challenge of running the table once again starting with Saturday’s heavyweight bout between RING No. 2-rated WBC titleholder Bermane Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 knockouts) and Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs), which many consider to be a pick-em affair.

Santoliquito selected Wilder among THE RING’s 36-member panel, whose votes ended in an 18-to-18 deadlock.

“I am undefeated and I am THE RING’s panelist champ,” said Santoliquito, “but I know that I can lose my ‘0’ with this very first fight.”

Co-promoted by Don King Production and Golden Boy Promotions, the match-up between Stiverne and Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) is one which the 36-year-old titleholder has promised will be “a short night” as well as a “painful” one for his 29-year-old counterpart.

A 2008 U.S. Olympic bronze medalist and the last American man to medal in Olympic boxing, Wilder has stated that Stiverne is “not going past four” rounds against him.

“It’s going to be a good fight but I’m feeling pretty good though about my pick,” said Santoliquito. “Wilder is taller and I think that he has a little bit more punching power than Stiverne. I will tell you this though; no matter what’s going to happen, it’s going to be exciting.”

Read more:

RingTV.com’s compilation of ‘Who wins?’ panelists from 2014