Tuesday 13 September 2016 13:20, UK
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman is hopeful of pitting Deontay Wilder against Anthony Joshua in a world heavyweight title unification clash as soon as possible.
Joshua (17-0-KO17) is the reigning IBF king and will make the second defence of his title in November with 2017 looking like the year he faces fellow champions such as WBC holder Wilder (37-0-KO36) and WBA Super and WBO king Tyson Fury (25-0-KO18).
Wilder is currently recovering from surgery on a hand injury sustained in July's eighth-round stoppage win over Chris Arreola but Sulaiman is already making plans; ordering Bermane Stiverne to meet Alexander Povetkin for the interim title in the meantime.
Regardless of the desires of former champion Stiverne to avenge his January 2015 defeat to Wilder or former WBA champion Povetkin to finally face the American, a glitzy clash with Joshua appears to be the ultimate goal for Sulaiman.
He told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview: "Absolutely Joshua is a very important fighter for the WBC. He fought for the WBC International title and the WBC was the first organisation to rank him.
"We understand that he had a great opportunity to challenge for another organisation. He was WBC No 2 at this time. We wish him the best. He's one of the greatest fighters out there and is the future of boxing.
We'll have the championship fight then we'll go from there but I'm excited to see Joshua fight for the WBC title.
"The winner of Bermane Stiverne v Alexander Povetkin is supposed to fight Wilder when Wilder is ready.
"So we would see how medical treatment is going and first we'll have the championship fight then we'll go from there but I'm excited to see Joshua fight for the WBC title."
The next significant landmark on the heavyweight horizon is Fury's rematch with former divisional overlord Wladimir Klitschko on October 29. Joshua's next opponent is expected to be named in the coming fortnight.
