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

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

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

The WBC have ordered Wilder to fight former unified world champion, Andy Ruiz Jr next in a final eliminator for Tyson Fury‘s WBC world title, but Finkel says a clash with Joshua is the priority.

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

“We would take that fight in the UK or the Middle East, and we will do it next.

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

“[Joshua’s promoter] Eddie Hearn said he contacted me in August, but we had the [Robert] Helenius fight.

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

“Now we are willing to talk to make a deal for Joshua next.”

With that being said Hearn, has previously said Dillian Whyte is the front runner to take on ‘AJ’ next year after beating Jermaine Franklin last weekend.

Finkel, however, believes boxing fans would rather see Joshua fight ‘The Bronze Bomber’, as he said: “The Ruiz fight is there, and we will do it if we can’t get Joshua.

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

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

“We understand Eddie could want the Whyte fight [as Joshua has lost twice to Usyk], but the fans would like to see Deontay Wilder vs Anthony Joshua, and we are willing to do it.

“Let’s make a deal.”