Deontay Wilder manager says he wants Anthony Joshua next and if not he will fight Andy Ruiz Jr in final eliminator for Tyson Fury’s WBC world title

A highly anticipated clash between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder could finally take place next year.

Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel recently spoke to World Boxing News and he revealed that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ wants Joshua to be next.

The WBC has ordered Wilder to fight former unified world champion Andy Ruiz Jr in a final knockout for Tyson Fury’s WBC world title, but Finkel says a matchup with Joshua is the priority.

“Deontay is ready to fight Anthony Joshua next,” Finkel said.

“We would take this fight in the UK or the Middle East, and then we’ll do it.

“We have the WBC eliminator with Ruiz, and we will do it, but we want the Joshua fight.

“[Joshua’s promoter] Eddie Hearn told me he contacted me in August, but we had [Robert] Battle of Helenius.

“We announced it that month and said we wouldn’t talk to anyone until after the Helenius fight. Eddie knew this but still said he contacted us.

“Now we are ready to talk to get a deal done for Joshua next.”

That being said, Hearn previously said Dillian Whyte is the favorite to face ‘AJ’ next year after beating Jermaine Franklin last weekend.

Finkel, however, thinks boxing fans would rather see Joshua fight “The Bronze Bomber,” as he said, “The Ruiz fight is here, and we’ll do it if we can’t get Joshua.

“But, even if Deontay beats Ruiz, we are still ready to fight Joshua.

“We are concerned he will want another tune up if he fights Whyte and doesn’t look good. So we should go straight into that fight next.

“We understand that Eddie might want the Whyte fight [as Joshua has lost twice to Usyk]but the fans would love to see Deontay Wilder vs. Anthony Joshua, and we’re ready to do that.

“Let’s make a deal.”