Wilder targets face-to-face confrontation with Joshua during his Parker clash in Cardiff

Deontay Wilder is planning a face-to-face with Anthony Joshua after the latter’s world heavyweight championship bout against Joseph Parker.

Joshua and Parker are due to meet at the Principality Stadium on March 31 with the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles on the line – Wilder’s WBC strap is the only one not involved.

The winner in Cardiff is widely expected to take on Wilder in a unification bout later this year, provided the American can maintain his flawless record against Luis Ortiz on March 3.

Wilder will form part of the commentary team on British television for Joshua-Parker and says he will have no qualms about getting familiar with the winner – who he expects to be the Brit.

“I will get in the ring and go face-to-face with him,” Wilder told Sky Sports.

“That will be amazing and I hope he is anticipating seeing me and people are anticipating two tough guys getting in the ring. We will call this the preview. This will let people see what our fight will be like.

Take what you want from this picture, but I rather show you than tell you.
Coming soon…#BombZquad #Promise pic.twitter.com/mCCytprelD

— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) January 26, 2018
“It typifies the show as well, because people want to know what’s going to happen next. I am an unpredictable person, I do what people don’t expect me to do but I do things when it’s the right time for me to do them. You’ll see.”

Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) and Joshua (20-0, all KOs) are widely regarded as the top-drawing heavyweights in the world and the ‘Bronze Bomber’ hopes they will meet in a bout to tie up the division.

“Of course, 100 per cent, even 1,000 per cent, we definitely hope Joshua wins,” Wilder said.

“I wouldn’t dare curse that he loses because people want to see the best fight the best. I want the heavyweight division to stay lit up as it has been and stay exciting like it is.

“I don’t dislike Anthony Joshua. I don’t hate the guy, I actually like him, just as much as I like Tyson Fury.

“I think he has done a tremendous job with what he’s done in his country and I am proud to see they are praising another black man for his accomplishments because you just don’t see that much these days.

“Being that he’s a champion and I am a champion it’s about time the division had one champion. One guy that takes it all, just one master of the division, one king on the throne and that’s why I really want this fight to happen.”