Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder WILL start talks 'this week' with WBC champ ready for UK
ANTHONY JOSHUA could be just a few weeks away from announcing a heavyweight unification clash with Deontay Wilder, according to the American’s manager.
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Wilder has previously been reticent to entertain the idea of fighting in the UK and refused to attend Joshua’s win over Joseph Parker on Saturday night.
But now it appears he has had a change of heart and the triumphant Brit’s cry of “let’s go, baby” in the ring afterwards has
"We are really glad that Anthony Joshua said for the first time 'I will fight Deontay next...' and we believe he is a man of his word. Deontay accepts the challenge," manager Shelly Finkel told the Telegraph after revealing he would be in touch with Joshua’s Matchroom promoters this week.
"We want to make it public that Deontay wants the fight, and we are prepared to come over, or meet here and get the deal done.
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“Deontay is ready to sign and come to the UK to fight this summer."
Wilder has fought in the UK before - he knocked out Audley Harrison in one round five years ago - but never as a champion.
Since earning the WBC strap in 2015, he has held seven successful defences in the US and four of them have been in his home state of Alabama.
But with his stance on travelling to the UK, where he could fight in front of a career-high crowd of 90,000 at Wembley, appears to have softened.
Promoter Eddie Hearn had hinted that a mandatory challenge by Alexander Povetkin could come before the Wilder clash, but Finkel believes that will not stand in the way.
Finkel added: "We're ready. Let's do it. And anyway, unification fights always trump mandatories.
“A unification between Wilder and Joshua would push the mandatories back.
"Assuming it will be Wembley Stadium in the summer, we are ready, and if they are ready as they say they are, we want to get it done.
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“We want the fight, they want the fight, the public wants the fight. There is nothing to stop it going ahead."
And Hearn showed his frustration at previous interactions with the American’s representatives.
“If they stepped up and were serious about the fight and the deal that we are more than fair to offer them, it could happen next,” Hearn said after Joshua’s win over Parker.
“But they are so erratic and unpredictable, I don’t know what to believe.”