Bob Velin

After Deontay Wilder had vanquished his latest opponent, Gerald Washington, on Saturday night, just as he had vanquished 36 men before him — by way of vicious knockout, this one in the fifth round — “The Bronze Bomber” turned introspective in his postfight news conference.

Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs), fighting in his home state for the fourth time as the WBC heavyweight champ, and for the third time at Legacy Arena, not to mention before a prime-time national television audience on Fox, addressed his greatest fear as perhaps the planet’s most feared puncher.

“On the outside of the ring, I’m a gentleman,” he said. “On the inside of the ring, I’m the Bronze Bomber; don’t care about nothing. No mercy, no pity, just do the job.”

Wilder, 31, who stands 6-7 and weighs 220 pounds, was just getting started.