Deontay Wilder has upped the stakes for a world heavyweight title unification fight with Anthony Joshua by volunteering to box in London this summer.

Wilder's promoter Shelly Finkel pre-empted an impending visit by Joshua and his team for talks in the US by announcing: 'We want to make it clear that Deontay is pleased that Joshua has said he wants the fight and that we will be willing for it to take place in London next.'

Joshua, his promoter Eddie Hearn and other key financial members of his team are planning to meet Wilder's handlers in America next week.

Finkel's statement is also aimed as a rebuttal of Hearn's claim that it is Wilder who has been refusing offers here.

'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,' Shelly Finkell, Wilder's co-manager, told the Telegraph.

'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. Deontay is ready to sign and come to the UK to fight this summer.'

Finkel said he would be in contact with Joshua's team at Matchroom this week to discuss plans to pencil a date, and venue, in the diary.

Team Joshua are torn between meeting WBC champion Wilder next following Saturday night's victory over Joseph Parker in Cardiff, which added the WBO title to his existing WBA, IBF and IBO belts.

But Finkell is keen to not let the Joshua-Wilder opportunity slip by the wayside. '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. We want the fight, they want the fight, the public wants the fight. There is nothing to stop it going ahead.'

This makes it more difficult for Hearn and Co to stall Wilder until October or November so that Joshua can fit in another fight this summer. But as Joshua says, 'In the end it will all be about the deal, the best offer, the money.'

It has been projected that Joshua-Wilder could be a £100m fight.

Finkell revealed Wilder's and Joshua's representatives met in New York at the end of last year to discuss a two-fight deal – one in the UK and the other across the Atlantic.

Wilder's people didn't hear back after those initial talks, but Finkel confirmed he was more than happy for his fighter to come over here for the first fight this summer if that's what it took to get this show on the road.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-5570353/Deontay-Wilder-accepts-challenge-fight-Anthony-Joshua-UK-confirms-manager.html#ixzz5BXzuqKUf
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