Anthony Joshua admits he is ‘begging’ to fight Deontay Wilder in April, but Tyson Fury is next in line
The 29-year-old insists he wants the American next as his dream is to unify the heavyweight division
Anthony Joshua has made it clear Deontay Wilder is his number one target for 2019.
The Brit has Wembley Stadium booked for April 13 and has told promoter Eddie Hearn that Wilder is the man he wants.
Joshua holds the IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles while the American clung on to the WBC belt in a controversial draw with Tyson Fury earlier this month.
Wilder said this week that Joshua's team are "begging" for a unification bout, having previously accused his rival of ducking him.
In response, AJ : "There's no ducking. I'm willing to fight.
"Begging? Yeah, I am begging. I want to become undisputed champion of the world. I'm hungry for it, so yeah I am begging."
Joshua's plans to fight Wilder could be scuppered by the WBC agreeing to sanction a rematch between the American and Fury.
But AJ is hopeful of a deal being done for April 13, saying on his next opponent: "In my head, it is Wilder.
"In terms of figures, it is a lot more lucrative than what he was fighting Fury for.
"Wilder should really consider this offer. I'm not chasing Wilder, it is not that I am desperate, but I'm just saying that both our schedules are free.
"He hasn't got no mandatory. I haven't either."
Should a deal to face Wilder fail to materialise, Joshua insists he'd jump at the chance to face Fury in an all-British showdown.
He said: "Wilder would be the frontrunner. If not, 100 per cent Fury. They are the two frontrunners (for April 13) and then anyone else in the top five after that.
"If Fury had the strap around his waist, of course I'll be mentioning him.
"If Fury doesn't want to fight in April, let's get it on, but when we've had conversations it comes down to silly numbers being bandied about.
"It's not that I'm not interested in Fury, it was just before was all about the road to undisputed. That is where I was going to. But if the fans want to me to fight Fury, I'd fight Fury in a heartbeat."